he Maid, where
there is wealth to be won, and golden coronets, and gaudy stones, such as
Saunders Macausland took off the Duke of Clarence at Bauge. Faith,
between the wound Capdorat gave you and this arrow of Dan Cupid's in your
heart, I believe you will not be of strength to carry arms till there is
not a pockpudding left in broad France. Come forth, and drain a pot or
two of wine, or, if the leech forbids it, come, I will play you for all
that is owing between you and me."

With that he lugged out his dice and fetched a tablier, but presently
vowed that it was plain robbery, for I could keep no count of the game.
Therewith he left me, laughing and mocking, and saying that I had been
bolder with Robin Lindsay's lass.

Being alone and out of all comfort, I fell to wandering in the workroom,
and there lit, to my solace, on that blessed book of the hundred
ballades, which my master was adorning with pictures, and with scarlet,
blue, and gold. It set forth how a young knight, in sorrow of love, was
riding between Pont de Ce and Angiers, and how other knights met him and
gave him counsel. These lines I read, and getting them by rote, took
them for my device, for they bid the lover thrust himself foremost in the
press, and in breach, mine, and escalade.

S'en assault viens, devant te lance,
En mine, en eschielle, en tous lieux
Ou proesce les bons avance,
Ta Dame t'en aimera mieux.

But reading soon grew a weariness to me, as my life was, and my master
coming home, bade me be of better cheer.

"By St. Andrew," quoth he, "this is no new malady of thine, but well
known to leeches from of old, and never yet was it mortal! Remede there
is none, save to make ballades and rondels, and forget sorrow in hunting
rhymes, if thou art a maker. Thou art none? Nay, nor ever was I, lad;
but I have had this disease, and yet you see me whole and well. Come,
lend me a hand at painting in these lilies; it passes not thy skill."

So I wrought some work whereof I have reason to be proud, for these
lilies were carried wheresoever blows and honour were to be won, ay, and
where few might follow them. Meanwhile, my master devised with me about
such sights as he had seen on the way, and how great a concourse was on
pilgrimage to Puy, and how, if prayers availed, the cause of France was
won; "and yet, in England too, wives are praying for their lords, and
lasses for their lads in France. But ours is the better quarrel."