Page:Gesta Romanorum - Swan - Hooper.djvu/440

Is from my purpose wonder far.
So may I say, as I said ere,^[1]
In holy church if that I vow,
My con-sci-énce I would allow
Be so, that on amend-e-ment,
I might-e get assign-e-ment;^[2]
Where, for to speed in other place,
Such sacrilege I hold a grace.
"And thus, my father, sooth to say,
In church-e right as in the way,
If I might ought of lov-e take
Such hansel^[3] have I nought forsake.
But finally, I me confess,
There is in me no holinéss,
While her I see in holy stead,
And yet for aught that ever I did,
No sacrilege of her I took.
But^[4] it were of word or look.
Or els-e if that I her freed,^[5]
When I towárd offeríng^[6] her lead,
Take thereof what I take may,
For els-e bear I nought away.
For tho' I wold-e ought else have,
All other thing-es be so safe,
And kept with such a privilege,
That I may do no sacrilege.
God wote^[7] my will nath-e-less,
Though I must need-es keep-e peace,
And maugre mine so let it pass,
My will thereto is not the lass,^[8]
If I might otherwise away.
"For this, my father, I you pray
Tell what you thinketh thereupon,
If I thereof have guilt or none."
"Thy will, my son, is for to blame,
The rem-e-nant is but a game
That I have thee told as yet.
But take this lore into thy wit,
That all things have time and stead.
The church serveth for the bead,^[9]
The chamber is of an other speech:
But if thou wistest of the wreche,^[10]
How sacrilege it hath abought,
Thou woldest better be bethought."

Confessio Amantis, lib. v. fol. 122, ed. 1532.

1. Before.
2. Assignation.
3. "Estreiné; handselled: that hath the handsell or first use of."—Cotgrave. The word is still extant.
4. Except.
5. This perhaps signifies made free with.
6. Altar; place of offering.
7. Knows.
8. Less.
9. Prayer.
10. Work.