are unbuxom and unthankful."

"Ay, so said the fox to the stork, when he 'plained to be served with
thin broth."

"Pray you, look but around. You be lodged fit for any queen, be she the
greatest in Christendom; you need but speak a wish, and you shall have
it fulfilled--"

"Namely, thou shalt not put me off with red silk to my broidery when I
would have blue."

"You eat of the best, and lie of the softest, and speak with whom you
would--"

"Hold there!" The fire had come back to the sunken eyes. "I would
speak with some that come never anigh me, mine own children, that have
cast me off, or be kept away from me; they never so much as ask the old
mother how she doth. And I slaved and wrought and risked my life for
them, times out of mind! And here you keep me, shut up in four walls,--
never a change from year end to year end; never a voice to say `Mother!'
or `I love thee;' never a hope to look forward to till death take me!
No going forth of my cage; even the very air of heaven has to come in to
me. And I may choose, may I, whether my bed shall be hung with green or
blue? I may speak my pleasure if I would have to my four-hours
macaroons or gingerbread? and be duly thankful that this liberty and
these delicates are granted me! Avena Foljambe, all your folly lieth
not in your legs."

Lady Foljambe evidently did not appreciate this pun upon her surname.

"Dame!" she said, severely.

"Well? I can fare forth, if you have not had enough. What right hath
your King thus to use me? I never was his vassal. I entreated his aid,
truly, as prince to prince; and had he kept his bond and word, he had
been the truer man. I never brake mine, and I had far more need than
he. Wherefore played he at see-saw, now aiding me, and now Charles,
until none of his knights well knew which way he was bent? I brought
Charles de Blois to him a prisoner, and he let him go for a heap of
yellow stuff, and fiddled with him, off and on, till Charles brake his
pledged word, and lost his life, as he deserved, at Auray. I desire to
know what right King Edward had, when I came to visit him after I had
captured mine enemy, to make _me_ a prisoner, and keep me so, now and
then suffering me, like a cat with a mouse, to escape just far enough to
keep within his reach when he list to catch me again. But not now, for
eight long years--eight long years!"

"Dame, I cannot remain here to list such language of my sovereign."

"Then don't.