Almachius saidë; “Takest thou no heed Of my powér?” and she him answer’d this; “Your might,” quoth she, “full little is to dread; For every mortal mannë’s power is But like a bladder full of wind, y-wis; 4565 For with a needle’s point, when it is blow’, May all the boast of it be laid full low.”

“Full wrongfully begunnest thou,” quoth he, “And yet in wrong is thy perséveránce. Know’st thou not how our mighty princes free Have thus commanded and made ordinánce, That every Christian wight shall have penánce, 4566 But if that he his Christendom withsay, 4567 And go all quit, if he will it renay?” 4568