Part 16 (2/2)

[21] 'Gane-full:' mouthful.

[22] 'Parpane:' part.i.tion.

[23] 'Fure:' went.

[24] 'Beinly:' snugly.

[25] 'Sickerness:' security.

THE GARMENT OF GOOD LADIES.

Would my good lady love me best, And work after my will, I should a garment goodliest Gar[1] make her body till.[2]

Of high honour should be her hood, Upon her head to wear, Garnish'd with governance, so good No deeming[3] should her deir,[4]

Her sark[5] should be her body next, Of chast.i.ty so white: With shame and dread together mixt, The same should be perfite.[6]

Her kirtle should be of clean constance, Laced with lesum[7] love; The mailies[8] of continuance, For never to remove.

Her gown should be of goodliness, Well ribbon'd with renown; Purfill'd[9] with pleasure in ilk[10] place, Furred with fine fas.h.i.+oun.

Her belt should be of benignity, About her middle meet; Her mantle of humility, To thole[11] both wind and weet.[12]

Her hat should be of fair havng, And her tippet of truth; Her patelet of good pansng,[13]

Her hals-ribbon of ruth.[14]

Her sleeves should be of esperance, To keep her from despair; Her gloves of good governance, To hide her fingers fair.

Her shoes should be of sickerness,[15]

In sign that she not slide; Her hose of honesty, I guess, I should for her provide.

Would she put on this garment gay, I durst swear by my seill,[16]

That she wore never green nor gray That set[17] her half so weel.

[1] 'Gar:' cause.

[2] 'Till:' to.

[3] 'Deeming:' opinion.

[4] 'Deir:' injure.

[5] 'Sark:' s.h.i.+ft.

[6] 'Perfite:' perfect.

[7] 'Lesum:' lawful.

[8] 'Mailies:' eyelet-holes.

[9] 'Purfill'd:' fringed.

[10] 'Ilk:' each.

[11] 'Thole:' endure.

[12] 'Weet:': wet.

[13] 'Pansing:' thinking.

[14] 'Her hals-ribbon of ruth:' her neck-ribbon of pity.

[15] 'Sickerness:' firmness.

[16] 'Seill:' salvation.

[17] 'Set:' became.

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