The queen anon for very womanhead Began to weep, and so did Emily, And all the ladies in the company. Great pity was it as it thought them all, That ever such a chancë should befall, For gentle men they were, of great estate, And nothing but for love was this debate; They saw their bloody woundës wide and sore, And cried all at once, both less and more, “Have mercy, Lord, upon us women all.” And on their barë knees adown they fall, And would have kiss’d his feet there as he stood, Till at the last aslaked was his mood 497 (For pity runneth soon in gentle heart); And though at first for ire he quoke and start, He hath consider’d shortly in a clause The trespass of them both, and eke the cause: And although that his ire their guilt accused, Yet in his reason he them both excused; As thus; he thoughtë well that every man Will help himself in love if that he can, And eke deliver himself out of prison. And eke his heartë had compassión