906[Qualiter filia Regis omnibus aliis relictis Appolinum in maritum preelegit.]

907 The billes weren wel received,

908Bot sche hath alle here loves weyved,

909And thoghte tho was time and space

910To put hire in hir fader grace,

911And wrot ayein and thus sche saide:

912"The schame which is in a Maide

913With speche dar noght ben unloke,

914Bot in writinge it mai be spoke;

915So wryte I to you, fader, thus:

916Bot if I have Appolinus,

917Of al this world, what so betyde,

918I wol non other man abide.

919And certes if I of him faile,

920I wot riht wel withoute faile

921Ye schull for me be dowhterles."

922This lettre cam, and ther was press

923Tofore the king, ther as he stod;

924And whan that he it understod,

925He yaf hem ansuer by and by,

926Bot that was do so prively,

927That non of othres conseil wiste.

928Thei toke her leve, and wher hem liste

929Thei wente forth upon here weie.