ut, should you determine otherwise, I
have already in mind whom I shall invest withal for the ensuing day."

Much was the debate between the ladies and the young men; but
ultimately they all took the king's counsel for useful and seemly and
determined to do as he proposed; whereupon, calling the seneschal, he
bespoke him of the manner which he should hold on the ensuing morning
and after, having dismissed the company until supper-time, he rose to
his feet. The ladies and the young men, following his example, gave
themselves, this to one kind of diversion and that to another, no
otherwise than of their wont; and supper-time come, they betook
themselves to table with the utmost pleasure and after fell to singing
and carolling and making music. Presently, Lauretta leading up a
dance, the king bade Fiammetta sing a song, whereupon she very
blithely proceeded to sing thus:

If love came but withouten jealousy,
I know no lady born
So blithe as I were, whosoe'er she be.
If gladsome youthfulness
In a fair lover might content a maid,
Virtue and worth discreet,
Valiance or gentilesse,
Wit and sweet speech and fashions all arrayed
In pleasantness complete,
Certes, I'm she for whose behoof these meet
In one; for, love-o'erborne,
All these in him who is my hope I see.

But for that I perceive
That other women are as wise as I,
I tremble for affright
And tending to believe
The worst, in others the desire espy
Of him who steals my spright;
Thus this that is my good and chief delight
Enforceth me, forlorn,
Sigh sore and live in dole and misery.

If I knew fealty such
In him my lord as I know merit there,
I were not jealous, I;
But here is seen so much
Lovers to tempt, how true they be soe'er,
I hold all false; whereby
I'm all disconsolate and fain would die,
Of each with doubting torn
Who eyes him, lest she bear him off from me.

Be, then, each lady prayed
By God that she in this be not intent
'Gainst me to do amiss;
For, sure, if any maid
Should or with words or becks or blandishment
My detriment in this
Seek or procure and if I know't, ywis,
Be all my charms forsworn
But I will make her ru