And to plump nose he slyly laid plump finger. 

       Now stood Sir Pertinax thoughtful, chin on fist, insomuch that Jocelyn, thrumming his lute, questioned him:     

   “Good Pertinax, how now What pond'rest thou With furrowed brow? Thy care, Sir Knight, avow!”  

       Saith Pertinax: “I meditate the way wondrous of woman, the frowardness of creatures feminine. For mark me, sir, here is one hath guardians ten, yet despite them she is fled away and they ten!”      

       “Why truly, Pertinax, they are ten, so is she fled.”      

       “Aye, but if they be ten that ward her and she one that would flee, how shall this one flee these ten?”      

       “For that they be ten.”      

       “Nay, lord, here be twenty eyes to watch one young maid and twenty legs to pursue the same, yet doth she evade them one and all, and here's the wonder on't—she's but one maid.”      

       “Nay, there's the reason on't, Pertinax—she is a maid.”      

       “The which is great matter for wonder, lord!”      

       “Spoke like a very Pertinax, my Pertinax, for here's no wonder at all. For perceive, the lady is young, her wardens ten grave seniors, worthy wights       —solemn, sober and sedate, Pertinax, wise and wearisome, grave yet garrulous, and therefore they suffice not.”      

       “Aye, prithee and wherefore not?”      

       “For their divers worthy attributes and because they be—ten. Now had these ten been one and this one a very man—the man—here had been no running away on part of the lady, I 'll warrant me?”      

       “Stay, my lord,” said Pertinax, in deep perplexity, “how judge ye so—and wherefore—why and by what manner o' reasoning?”      

       “Ha, Pertinax!” laughed the Duke, “my lovely, loveless numskull!” So saying, he kicked the good Knight full joyously and so they trudged on again.     

   Till presently, beyond the green of trees, They saw afar the town of Canalise, A city fair, couched on a gentle height, With walls embattled and strong towers bedight. Now 

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