xxxviii
Introduction
Than muste he, qd sche, kyndely forto do,
Meve hym vpon hys feet. Boecius. Hym muste so.
Thus on his feet may walken as hym oght.
This oþer nay, forwhy he haþ hem noght.
Meve hym vpon hys feet. Boecius. Hym muste so.
Thus on his feet may walken as hym oght.
This oþer nay, forwhy he haþ hem noght.
And on his hondes crepe he will therfore.
Who is of thise be strengere wilt þou seyn?
Hold on, qd I, youre processe forthirmore;
No wyght may doute, of þis I am certeyn,
But þat þis man whiche haþ his lymes tweyn
Þe strenger is þan he þat wanteth bothe;
He moste confessen þat will sey ysothe.
Who is of thise be strengere wilt þou seyn?
Hold on, qd I, youre processe forthirmore;
No wyght may doute, of þis I am certeyn,
But þat þis man whiche haþ his lymes tweyn
Þe strenger is þan he þat wanteth bothe;
He moste confessen þat will sey ysothe.
But þan þis verrey souereyn, qd sche,
To whiche þei hauen bothe effeccioun,
The good & badde, & bothe þei stonden free,
To wynne it be þaire trewe eleccioun,
The good it wyrneþ be perfeccioun
Of vertu, which is men kyndely
That souereyn good schulde be wonne by.
To whiche þei hauen bothe effeccioun,
The good & badde, & bothe þei stonden free,
To wynne it be þaire trewe eleccioun,
The good it wyrneþ be perfeccioun
Of vertu, which is men kyndely
That souereyn good schulde be wonne by.
They bad it seken in a wrongfull wyse,
And for þat skill þei wynne it noght a dele,
Be sondre lustes of þaire couetise
Whiche ben no verrey menes naturele
Whereby this good þei schuld acheuen wele.
Whether is it þus, or elles demest þow
To nayen this, wot I not why ne how.
And for þat skill þei wynne it noght a dele,
Be sondre lustes of þaire couetise
Whiche ben no verrey menes naturele
Whereby this good þei schuld acheuen wele.
Whether is it þus, or elles demest þow
To nayen this, wot I not why ne how.
Of þat we haue concluded vs bytwene
It is full clere & open to my sight.
þat good folk schulde alwey myghti bene,
And bad men despoyled all of myght.
Now þou be forme, qd sche, remeuest right,
So þt of the I take a iugement
As doth a leche be his pacient.
It is full clere & open to my sight.
þat good folk schulde alwey myghti bene,
And bad men despoyled all of myght.
Now þou be forme, qd sche, remeuest right,
So þt of the I take a iugement
As doth a leche be his pacient.
When þat nature is reysed and redressed
So þt it may wiþstonde the maladie,
He hopeth þan the langour is repressed,
And þat he may be curid esily.
So þt it may wiþstonde the maladie,
He hopeth þan the langour is repressed,
And þat he may be curid esily.
A century
