My lord will rush to my defence,
for he is proud and bold enough. Either in earnest or in jest,
have him seized and treated ill, or strike his head off, if you
will. I have led this life now long enough; to tell the truth.
I like not the company of this my lord. Rather would I feel your
body lying beside me in a bed. And since we have reached this
point, of my love you may rest assured." The Count replies: "It
is well, my lady! God bless the hour that you were born; in
great estate you shall be held." "Sire," says she, "indeed, I
believe it. And yet I would fain have your word that you will
always hold me dear; I could not believe you otherwise." Glad
and merry, the Count replies: "See here, my faith I will pledge
to you loyally as a Count, Madame, that I shall do all your
behests. Have no further fear of that. All you want you shall
always have." Then she took his plighted word; but little she
valued or cared for it, except therewith to save her lord. Well
she knows how to deceive a fool, when she puts her mind upon it.
Better it were to lie to him than that her lord should be cut
off. The Count now rose from her side, and commends her to God a
hundred times. But of little use to him will be the faith which
she has pledged to him.
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