And mix him in this great emprise,
For much he fears that you despise
And hate him.
We beseech, O sire,
That you abate some deal your ire,
And give consent that he may be
Accounted of the barony,
With Abstinence, his loving friend.
Love.
Thereto, quoth Love, my will I bend,11470
Henceforth shall he be called my man,
Let him approach.
The Author.
He thither ran.
LXI
Herein the God of Love retains
False-Seeming as his man, and gains
Applause thereby, the host doth ring
With shouts to crown him Ribalds’ King.
False-Seeming accepted
’Tis thus agreed, False-Seeming then,
That thou should’st join my loyal men,
To give our friends thy powerful aid,
And guard them lest they be betrayed.11420
’Tis thine, so far as in thee lies,
To help them, and their enemies
To grieve and injure, thou shall be
The King of Ribalds under me;
