“Let me alone in choosing of my wife; That charge upon my back I will endure: But I you pray, and charge upon your life, That what wife that I take, ye me assure To worship 2461 her, while that her life may dure, In word and work both here and ellëswhere, As she an emperorë’s daughter were.

“And farthermore this shall ye swear, that ye Against my choice shall never grudge 2462 nor strive. For since I shall forego my liberty At your request, as ever may I thrive, Where as mine heart is set, there will I wive And but 2463 ye will assent in such mannére, I pray you speak no more of this mattére.”