She thought, “I will with other maidens stand, That be my fellows, in our door, and see The marchioness; and therefore will I fand 2488 To do at home, as soon as it may be, The labour which belongeth unto me, And then I may at leisure her behold, If she this way unto the castle hold.”

And as she would over the threshold gon, The marquis came and gan for her to call, And she set down her water-pot anon Beside the threshold, in an ox’s stall, And down upon her knees she gan to fall, And with sad 2489 countenancë kneeled still, Till she had heard what was the lordë’s will.