This maid, of which I tell my tale express, She kept herself, her needed no mistréss; For in her living maidens mightë read, As in a book, ev’ry good word and deed That longeth to a maiden virtuous; She was so prudent and so bounteous. For which the fame out sprang on every side Both of her beauty and her bounté wide: That through the land they praised her each one That loved virtue, save envý alone, That sorry is of other mannë’s weal, And glad is of his sorrow and unheal — The Doctor maketh this descriptioún. — This maiden on a day went in the town Toward a temple, with her mother dear, As is of youngë maidens the mannére. Now was there then a justice in that town, That governor was of that regioún: And so befell, this judge his eyen cast Upon this maid, avising her full fast, As she came forth by where this judgë stood; Anon his heartë changed and his mood, So was he caught with beauty of this maid And to himself full privily he said, “This maiden shall be mine for any man.” Anon the fiend into his heartë ran, And taught him suddenly, that he by sleight This maiden to his purpose winnë might. For certes, by no force, nor by no meed, Him thought he was not able for to speed; For she was strong of friendës, and eke she Confirmed was in such sov’reign bounté, That well he wist he might her never win, As for to make her with her body sin. For which, with great deliberatioún, He sent after a clerk was in the town, The which he knew for subtle and for bold. This judge unto this clerk his talë told In secret wise, and made him to assure He shouldë tell it to no creatúre, And if he did, he shouldë lose his head. And when assented was this cursed rede, Glad was the judge, and made him greatë cheer, And gave him giftës precioús and dear.
When shapen was all their conspiracy From point to point, how that his lechery Performed shouldë be full subtilly, As ye shall hear it after openly, Home went this clerk, that hightë Claudius. This falsë judge, that hightë Appius— (So was his namë, for it is no fable, But knowen for a storial thing notáble; The sentence of it sooth is out of doubt);— This falsë judgë went now fast about To hasten his delight all that he may. And so befell, soon after on a day, This falsë judge, as telleth us the story, As he