s had sent, after her usual
fashion, a marriage present to a certain lady, by two of her maids of
honor (by name Agnes and Mary), we shall transfer the narrative to our
pages in Master Gierth's own manner.

After the presentation of the gifts, and when the marriage ceremony was
concluded, the two maids of honor were preparing to return to Brieg,
when the bride's father stopped them, saying:

"'How? Shall I suffer two such angels of joy to depart, without tasting
of my food and my drink? Nay, noble damsels, ye must abide here awhile
beyond the marriage festivities, and be of good cheer! I will
immediately dispatch a trusty messenger on horse to her most gracious
ladyship, the duchess, and obtain leave for your sojourn here.'

"The two damsels did, therefore, abide there the space of three days,
and became acquainted with two gallants of the place; with whom they did
exchange love-tokens and rings. But when the two damsels returned to
Brieg to render an account of their mission, the duchess did note the
rings on the fingers of the two damsels, and questioned them how they
came thereby. So soon, therefore, as the two damsels did confess the
truth, their mistress, half-jestingly, and half in earnest, said unto
them:

"'How now, ye gad-abouts! ye have scarce chipped the egg-shell, and
have, as yet, no means to make the pot boil, seeing that ye are poor
orphans, and under age; and ye yet dare to listen to the nonsense of
strange gallants, unbeknown to your foster-mother! Tell me, foolish
young things, ought I not to take the rod to you? Take off the rings
from your fingers, and give them to me. I will send them back; seeing
that the betrothal is null and void, and mere child's play.'

"The young damsels did then obey her ladyship, but wept apace the while.
This caused her ladyship to have compassion upon them, and she did
minister comfort to them thus:

"'Ah! beloved daughters! ye shed bitter, hot tears that ye do not
already wear the curch [the German head dress of married women]. But if
ye did but know the heaviness of being wedded wives, even when the cares
are lightest, ye would rejoice! Meanwhile, the matter hath been carried
on against all Christian order. I have always heard that the lover first
maketh his suit known to the parents or the guardians, and that then
the betrothal taketh place. Your suitors must needs be in great haste.
Why stand they in such great necessity of pushing their suit?'

"Hereupon the d