That to this King was servit at the deiss; 25
Another was all fovellis for scent.26

Of liquor, or of any lusty 27 meiss:

The fifth 28 there was which could all 29 but leiss,20

The hot, the cold, the hard, and eke the soft,
A ganand 31 servant both for war and peace.
Yet have these folk their King betrasit oft.

33

Honour perceivit at 32 the Kingis gate,
These folk said all they would not let him in;
Because they said their lord to feast was set,
With all his lusty servants more and myn:
But he a port 34 had enterit with a gyn,35
And up he can in haste to the great tower,
And said he should it parall 36 all with fine
And fresh delight with many florist3 flower.

So strong this King him thought his castle stood,
With many tower and turret crownit hie:
About the wall there ran a water void,3
Black, stinking, sour, and salt as is the sea,
That on the wallis wiskit,39 gre by gre
Boldening to rise the castle to confound;
But they within made so great melody,

40

64

72

That for their reird" they might not hear the sound. 80

23 Deiss, dais or high table.

26 All fovellis for scent, for the smelling of all provisions.

27 Lusty, pleasant.

28 Feeling.

30 But leiss, without falsehood.

29 Could all, knew all.

31 Ganand, fit, belonging to; of the same Northern root as "gain" in the sense of fit or near-" the gainest way," the nearest way.

32 Perceivit at, persewit to.

34 Port, gate.

36 Parall, adorn.

33 Myn, less.

35 Gyn, contrivance, stratagem.

37 Florist, flourishing.

38 Void, unsupplied; having no springs to freshen it.

39 Wiskit, plashed.

392

"Yield you, madame;" green Lust could say all soon;
"And fairly shall we govern you and yours.
Our Lord King Heartis will must now be done,
That yet is law among the nether bowers;
O'er long, madame, ye keepit these high towers;
Nor thank we none but Pity us suppleit." 2
Dame Danger then into a nook she cowers;
And quaking there the Queen she lay for dread.
Then Busteousness 23 come with brag and boast,
All that gainstood he struck dead on the floor.
Dame Plesaunce said, "Shall we this way be lost?
Bring up the King, let him in at the door;
In his gentrice" right well I dare assure.”
Therefore sweet Comfort cried upon the King:
Then Busyness, that cunning creatúre,

To serve Dame Plesaunce soon there can him bring. 400

So sweet a swell as struck unto his heart
When that he saw Dame Plesaunce at his will.
"I yield me, sir, and do me not to smart,"
(The fair Queen said upon this wise him till)
"I save youris, suppose 25 it be no skill.26
All that I have, and all that mine may be,
With all my heart I offer here you till,
And askis nought but ye be true to me."

To that which Love, Desire, and Lust devised,
Thus fair Dame Plesaunce sweetly can assent.
Then suddenly Sir Heart him now disguised
On got his amorous cloak or e'er he stent.
Freshly to feast these amorous folk are went.
Blitheness was first brought bodward to the hall;
Dame Chastity, that selie 27 innocent,

408

21 Up glifnit, glanced up from broken sleep. Jamieson, "is to open the eyes at intervals in awaking from a disturbed sleep." (Allied through "gleuin," to glow, and " gleam.") 22 But Pity us suppleit, unless Pity had assisted us.