For carrying on the human race
(Formed in the image of his face),7340
And which, except for these, had been
Void of succession, as I ween.
But in his wisdom God supplied
The purse and staff, which might provide,
By natural force, the race of men
In undisturbed succession; then
From age to age would mother earth
Rejoice, from whom they erst had birth.
For when one dies another lives;
That sire God takes, this child he gives.7350
And so likewise with beast and bird,
Some flit, but nature’s force hath stirred
Others to fill their place; through time
Ring life and death in equal chime.”
The Lover.
The Lover feels outraged
Cried I, “You do but make things worse,
For now I reckon most perverse
And lewd your speech, not only bad
You seem to me, but downright mad.
For if so be that everything
From God’s unerring hand doth spring,7360
As you have said, at least not he
’Twas taught your tongue this ribaldry.”
Reason.
“Fair friend,” wise Reason said, “thou mak’st
A grievous error if thou tak’st
Folly for valiance; that it ne’er
Hath been, nor shall be; speak, nor spare,
