His flight, but nought could he deny:
We twain stood there in company.
Soon as I saw this angry hag,
Knew her vile face, and heard her wag
Her cursed tongue, I strove to hide,
In hope to shirk her spite’s full tide.3720
Then coming towards us Shame appeared,
With downcast look, as though she feared
Correction. On her head a simple
Nun’s convent veil she wore for wimple,
And thus with faltering words outspake:
Shame speaks to Jealousy.
Shame excuses him
“ Madame, I pray you, for God’s sake.
The words of Evil-Tongue despise,
A man is he who lightly lies.
And worthy folk calumniates:
If now he wrathfully delates3730
Fair-Welcome, he is not the first
To suffer ’neath his tongue accurst.
For, ever Evil-Tongue delights
To mar the fame of noble knights
And gentle damosels. In truth
Fair-Welcome, though a gentle youth,
Doth make his leash sometimes too long,
Nor may he be acquit of wrong
In gathering friends too readily;
Yet do I not believe that he3740
Should be accused of ill intent,
For is he not of good descent
Through Courtesy, his mother, who,
Life-long hath never stooped unto
