Text Box: But at the last she, for his worthiness, And namely for his meek submission, Has taken such a pity on his suffering That privately she agreed with him To take him for her husband and hir lord, Of such lordship as men have over their wives. And to lead the more blissfully their lives, Of his free will he swore her as a knight That never in all his life he, day or night, Should take upon himself any mastery Against her will, nor show her jealousy, But obey her, and follow her will in everything, As any lover to his lady should, Except for the appearance of sovereignty, Which he would have to avoid bringing shame on his status (of knighthood). She thanked him, and with full great humbleness She said, "Sir, since of your nobility You offer me to have such freedom from restraint, And would God that never between us two, Through my fault, should be either war or strife. Sir, I will be your humble true wife -- Have here my pledge -- until my heart bursts (until I die)." Thus are they both in quiet and in peace.
 


But atte laste she, for his worthynesse,
And namely for his meke obeysaunce,
Hath swich a pitee caught of his penaunce
That pryvely she fil of his accord
To take hym for hir housbonde and hir lord,
Of swich lordshipe as men han over hir wyves.
And for to lede the moore in blisse hir lyves,
Of his free wyl he swoor hire as a knyght
That nevere in al his lyf he, day ne nyght,
Ne sholde upon hym take no maistrie
Agayn hir wyl, ne kithe hire jalousie,
But hire obeye, and folwe hir wyl in al,
     As any lovere to his lady shal,
Save that the name of soveraynetee,
That wolde he have for shame of his degree.
She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse
She seyde, "Sire, sith of youre gentillesse
Ye profre me to have so large a reyne,
 Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne,
 As in my gilt, were outher werre or stryf.
Sire, I wol be youre humble trewe wyf --
Have heer my trouthe -- til that myn herte breste."
Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste.

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