“Wife,” quoth the marquis, “ye have heard ere this My people sickly bear 2583 our marriáge; And namely 2584 since my son y-boren is, Now is it worse than ever in all our age: The murmur slays mine heart and my coráge, For to mine ears cometh the voice so smart, 2585 That it well nigh destroyed hath mine heart.

“Now say they thus, ‘When Walter is y-gone, Then shall the blood of Janicol’ succeed, And be our lord, for other have we none:’ Such wordës say my people, out of drede. 2586 Well ought I of such murmur takë heed, For certainly I dread all such senténce, 2587 Though they not plainen in mine audiénce. 2588