God send also unto thy most vayle,
The to preserve ffrom alle hevynesse,
A spiryt, a strenghte, and of good counsaylle.
Of connyng, drede, pytee, and lownesse."
Thus thes ladies gan her gyftes dresse,
Grasciosly at ther owte comyng,
Be influence lighte Tipon the kyng.
Thes empresses hadd on ther left side
Other vij. virgenis, pure and clene.
Be attendaunt contynuelly to abyde,
Alle clad in white, smytt fuUe of steri'is schene ;
And to declare what thei wold mene.
Unto the kyng withe fulle grete reverence
Thes were thre gilftes shortly in sentence : —
" God the endew withe a croune of glory ;
And withe septre of clennes and pitee,
And withe a swerd of myghte and victory.
And withe a mantelle of prudens clad thou be :
A scheld of feithe for to defende the,
An helme of helthe wroughte to thyne encreses,
Gyrt withe a gyrdelle of love and parfite pees."
10 LYDfJATE'S MINOR POEMS.
Thes vij. virgens, of sighte most hevenly,
Withe hert, body, and handes rejoyseng,
And of ther cheris aperid murely,
For the kynges gracios home coniyng;
And fFor gladnes they began to syng,
Most aungelyk with hevenly armony,
This same roundelle wiche I schalle now specify.
" Sovereigne lord, welcome to youre citee !
Welcome oure joye, and oure hertes plesaunce !
Welcome oure gladness, welcome oure suffisaunce !
Welcome I welcome ! righte welcome mot ye be!
Singyng to fForn thi rialle majeste,
We say ofFte hert, withowte variaunce,
Sovereigne lord, welcome, welcome ye be !
" Meire, citezins, and alle the comynalte,
Att youre home comyng now owghte of Fraunce,
Be grace relevyd of ther old grevaunce,
Sing this day, withe grete solempnite,
Sovereigne lord, welcome to youre citee I "
Thus resseyved, an esy pase riding.
The kyng is intered into this citee ;
And in Cornhille, anone at his commyng,
To do plesaunce to his majeste,
A tabernacle surmontyng of beaute
Ther was ordeyned, be fulle ffresshe entayle,
Richele arrayed withe rialle apparaylle.
lydgate's minor poems. 11
This tabernacle of most magnyfycence
Wlias of his byldyng verry imperialle,
Made for the lady dame Sapience,
To-fore whos face, most statly and rialle,
Were the vij. science callyd liberealle.
Round aboughte as makyd is memory,
Wiche never departyd ffrom her consystory.
First ther whas Gramer, as I reherse cane,
CheefF fFounderesse and roote of alle connyng,
Wiche had afore her old Precyane ;
And Logyk had afore her stondyng
Arestotylle most clerkly desputyng ;
And Retoryk had eke in her presence
Tulyus, callyd " Mirrour of Eloquence."
And Musik had, voyde of alle discord,
Boece her clerk, withe hevenly armony.
And instruraentes alle of oon accorde ;
For to practyse withe sugrid melody.
He and his scolers ther wittis did apply,
Withe touche of strengis, on organs eke pleyeng,
Ther craft to schew at comyng of the kyng.
And Arsmetryk, be castyng of nombrary,
Chees Pyktegoras for her parte.
Called chef clerk to governe her library,
Euclyde toke mesures, be craft of Gemytre,
And alder-highest tooke Astronomye
Albmusard last withe her of sevyn,
With instrumentis that raught up into hevyn.
12 LYDftATE'S MINOR POEMS.
The cheef princes callid Sapience,
Had to-forn her writen this scripture,
" Kynges," quod sche, " most of excellense, —
By me they regne and most in joye endure,
For thorow my helpe and my besi cure,
To encrese ther glorye and hie renoune,
They schalle of wisdam have full posscssione."
And, in the ffrount of this tabernacle,
Sapience a scripture gan devise,
Abylle to be red withowghte a spectakle,
As yong kynges seyeng in this wise,
" Understondith and lernytlie of the wise.
On righte remembryng the highe lord to queme,
Sith ^e be jugis other folk to derae."
Ferthermore the mater dothe devise,
The kyng procedyng forthe upon his way,
Kome to the Condyte made in cercle w ise,
Whom to resceyve ther whas made no delay.
And middes above, in fFuUe riche aray,
Ther satt a child off beaute precellyng,
Middes of the trone, rayed lyke a kyng.
Whom to governe, ther were figured tweyne,
A lady Mercy satt on his righte side,
On his righte hond, yef I schuld not fayle,
A lady Trouthe his domysto provide.
The lady Clennes aloft did abyde.
Off God ordeigned in the same place, —
The kynges trone strongly to embrace.
lydgate's minor poems. T3
For be the sentence of prudent Salaman,
Mercy and right kepyng every kyng,
And clemence kepte be reson,
His myghti trone ffroni rayschef and fallyng ;
And raakithe it strong withe long abydyng ;
For I dar say thees sayd ladyes thre
A kyng preserve in long prosperite.
Than stood also, afore the sayd kyng,
Two jugis withe full hihe noblesse,
Vii). sergeauntes, echon presentyng,
For comyn profite, dome, and rightewisnes.
Withe this scripture in every raannys sighte,
" Honor of kyng, wiche I schalle expresse,
Of comyn custome, lovithe equitc and righte."
Kyng David wrote, the sawter berithe wittnes,
" Lord God," quod he, " thy dome yeve to the kyng,"
And yefF thy trouthe and rightewisnes ;
The kynges sone here in his levyng.
To us declaryng, as by ther wrytyng.
That kynges, princes, schuld abou5t hem drawe
Folk that be trew, and well expert in the lawe.
The kyng fforthe riding enterid into Chepe,
A lusty place, a place of alle delites,
Come to Condyte were, as cristall stoon,
The watyr ranne lyke wellis of Paradise,
The holsom lycor, fuUe riche and of gret prise,
Lyke to the watyr of Archideclyne,
Wiche be raeracle were turned into wyne.
14 lydgate's minor poems.
Thetes wiche is of water chef Godcles,
Had of the welle pouer noone ne myghte,
For Bochous schowed ther his fulsomnes
Off holsome wynes to every maner wighte ;
For wyne of nature makithe liertes lyghte,
Wherfor Bachus, att reverence of the kyng,
Shedd out his plentc at his home comyng.
Wyne is a lycor of grate recreacioun,
That day presentyd in tokyn of alle gladnesse,
Unto the kyng of fFamous of highe renoun,
From texile alle maner hevinesse ;
For withe his comyng, the dede berithe witnesse.
Out of the lond he put awey alle trobelle,
And made of newe oure joies to be dobelle.
Eke att thes wellys there were virginis thre,
Wiche drew of wyne up joye and of plesaunce,
Mercy and Grace, ther suster eke Pitee,
Mercy mynestered wynes of attemperaunce ;
Grace sched the lycour of good governance.
And Pitee proferred, withe fFulle good ffoyson,
Wynes of comfort and consolation.
The wyne of Mercy staunchithe be nature
The gredy thristis of cruelle hastynes,
Grace withe her lycour cristallyne and pure
Deiferrithe vengeaunce offfFuriose woodnes,
And Pite blemeshithe the swerd of rightewisne ;—
Covenable wellys most holsom of savour,
For to be tasted of every governour.
lydgate's minor poems. 15
O, how these wellis, whoso take good hede,
Withe her lycoros most holsome to attaine,
Affore devised notabely indede
For to accordyne with the maiers name,*
Wiche by report of his worthi fame.
That way whas besy in alle his governaunce,
Unto the Kyng for to do plesaunce.
Ther wher eke treen, withe levys ffresshe of hewe,
Alle tyme of yere, fuUe of frutis lade,
Of colour hevenly, and ever i-liche newe,
Orengis, aimondis, and the pome-garnade,
Lymons, datez, ther colors ffresshe and glade,
Pipus, quinces, blaunderelle, to disport,
And the pome-cedre corageos to recomfort.
Eke the frutis wiche more comon be,
Quenyngez, pechis, costardes, etiam wardons,
And other many fulle faire and ffresshe to see ;
The pome-watyr, and the gentylle ricardons ;
And ageyns hertis fFor mutigacions,
Damysyns wiche withe her taste delyte,
Fulle grete plente bothe of blak and white.
And beside this graciose paradise,
And joy and gladnes for to multeplye,
Two old men, fFull circumspecte and wise,
Ther didd appere lyke fFolkes of fFayre,
The tone was Ennok, the toder whas Eiye,
The kyng presentyng ther giftes ful notable,
That God conferme his state ay to be stabylle.
* [John Welles.]
16 lydgate's minor poems.
The first seyd, withe benigne chere,
Gretely desireng his prosperitc,
That noon enmyes have in him povvere,
Nor that no child be falce iniquite
Parturbed never his felicite ;
Thus old Ennok the processe gan welle telle,
And prayd for the kyng, os he rod be the welle.
Afftyr Elyas, withe his lokkes hore,
Seyd welle devoutly, lokyn on the kyng,
" God conserve the, and kepe the evermore,"
And make him blissed, here in erthe levyng,
And preserve him in alle manner thing.
And specially amongis kyngis alle,
In enmyes handis that he nevir ffalle.
And att fFrountor of thees welles clere,
Ther whas a scripture commendyng ther lycour,-
" je schall draw wateris, withe good chere,
Oute of wellis of oure Saviour,
Wiche have vertu to curen alle langueres,
Be influence of her grete swettness,
Hertis avoydyng of alle ther hevyness."
Than ffrome these wellis of fFulsome abundaunce,
Withe ther lycoures, as eny cristalle clene,
The kyng rood forth, withe sober contenaunce,
Toward a castelle bylt of jasper grene,
Upon whos towris the sonne schone fulle schene.
The clerly schewed, be noble remembraunce,
This kyriges title of Englond .ind of Fraunce.
lydgate's minor poems. 1 7
Twoo grene treene there grewe uprighte,
Fro Seynt Edward and iFro Seynt Lowys,
The roote I take palpable to the sighte,
Conveyed be lynes be kynges of grete prise ;
Sora bare leopardis, and som bare fflouredelice,
In nowther armes found Avhas ther no lak,
Wiche the vj.*® Herry may now bere on his bak.
The degre be just successioune,
As trew cronycles trewly determyne,
Unto the kyng is now descended doune,
From ether parte righte as eny lyne ;
Upon M'hos hede now ffresshely dothe schyne
Two riche crounys most sovereing of plesaunce,
To bring in peese bitwene Englond and Fraunce.
Upon this castelle unto the thoder side
Ther whas a tree, wiche sprang oujt of Jesse,
Ordeyned of God ffulle long to abyde, —
David crounyd ffirst for his humilite,
The braunchis conveyed, as men myght see,
Lyneally and in the genelogie.
To Crist Jhesu that whas born of Mary.
And why the Jesse whas sett on that party,
This whas the cause in especialle.
For next to Poulys, I dar welle specify,
Is the party most chef and principalle,
Called be Londone the chirche cathedralle,
Wiche ought of resone the devise to excuse.
To alle tho that wold ageyn it ffroune or musee.
18 lydoate's minor poems.
And fFro that castelle the kyng fForthe gan him dresse
Towarde Poulys, chiefF chirche of this citee,
And att Condite a lytelle and a lykenes,
In devisible made of the trinite,
A trone compassid of his rialle see,
Abowte wiche schortly to conclude,
Of hevenly aungelys were a grete multitude.
To whom whas yoven a precepte in scripture,
Wrote in the ffrountor of the highe stage.
That they schuld done theire besy cure.
To kepe the kyng sure from alle damage,
In his lifF here duryng alle his age,
His highe renoune to sprede and schine fferre,
And of these too remes to sesse the mortalle werre.
And last was wry ten in the ffrontures,
" I schalle fFuUefille him withe joy and habundaunce,
And withe lengthe of holsom yeris,
And I schalle schew him myne help withe alle ple-
And of his liegis fFeithefFulle obeisaunce, [saunce,
And multiplie and ecrese his lyne,
And make his noblesse thorowoute the world to schyne.
" Love of his people, ffavour of alle straungeris,
In bothe his remes pees, and rest, and unite,
Be influence of the ix. speris,
Long to contynew in his rialle see,
Grace to cherishe the mayr and the cite,
Long in his mynde to be conceyved,
Here God wolle that day he whas resseyved."
lydgate's minor poems. 19
Comyng to Poulys, ther he lighte a doune,
Entered the chirche fFuUe demure of chere,
And ther to mete him withe procession
"Whas the erchebisshope and the chauncellere,
Lyncolne, and Bathe, of hoole hert and entire,
Salisbury, Norwiche, and Ely,
In pontificalle arrayed richely.
Ther whas the bisshope of Rouchester allso.
The dene of Poulys, the chanons everychon,
Of dew OS thei oughte to doo,
On procession withe the kyng to goon,
And thoughe I canne not reherse hem on by oone,
3et dar I sey, as in ther entent.
To do theyre dever fuUe treuly they ment.
Lyke ther estatis forthe thei gan procede,
Withe observauncez longyng for a kyng,
Solemplye gan him conveye in dede
Up into the chirche withe fulle devoute singing ;
And whan he had made his offeryng.
The maier, the citizius, aboode and left him noujt.
Unto Westmynster tylle they had him brought.
Where alle the covent, in copys richely,
Met withe him off custume as they oughte.
The abbot afftyr most solemplye,
Amonges the relykkes the septure ought he soughte
Of Seynt Edward, and to the kyng it broughte,
Thoughe it were long, large, and of grete wighte.
Yet on his schulderis he bare it on heighte.
c2
20 lydgate's minor poems.
Into the mynsteris while alle the bellys rong,
Till he kome to the highe auter,
And fulle devoutly Te Deum ther whas song.
And the peple, glad of looke and chere,
Thanked God with alle her hertis entere,
To se their kyng withe two crownys schyne,
From two trewes trewly fet the lyne.
And aftyr that, this is the verray sothe.
Unto his paleys of kyngly apparaille,
Withe his lordis the kyng forthe gothe,
To take his rest after his travayle ;
And than of wisdome, wiche may so moche avayle,
The mayer, the citezins, wiche alle this did see,
Bethe home repayred into her citee.
The schirevis, the aldermen in fere,
The Saterday alther nexte sewyng.
Their meyer presentyd, withe alle ther hertis entere.
Goodly to be resceyved of the kyng ;
And att Westmynster confermed their askyng,
The meyre and thei withe fulle hoole entent.
Unto the kyng a gifFt gan present.
The wiche gyfte they goodly han disposed,
Tooke an hampyr of gold that schene schone,
A M^ pound of gold therin closyd,
And ther withalle to the kyng they gone.
And ffylle on knees to-forne him everychone,
Fulle humblye the trouthe to devise,
And to the kyng the meier sayd on this wise : —
lydgate's minor poems. 21
" Most cristene prince and noble kyng, the good folke
of youre most notable cite of Londone, other clepyd
youre Chamber, beseching in her most lowly wise,
thei mowe be recommaundyd unto youre highenes;
and that it cane lyke unto youre noble grace to
resceyve this litelle gift, gefFen withe a good wille of
trouthe and loughenes, as ever eny gyfft whas 3oven to
eny erthely prince."
Be glad, O Londone, be glad and make grete joy !
Citee of citees, of noblesse precellyng,
In thi begynneng callyd new Troy,
For worthinesse thank God of alle thing,
Wiche hast this day resceyved so thy kyng,
Withe many a signe and many an observaunce,
To encress thi name be newe remembraunce.
Suche joy whas nat in the consistori,
Made for the triumple withe alle the surpluage,
Whane Sesar Julius kom home withe his viciory,
Ne for the conquest of Sipion in Carthage,
As London made, in every maner age,
Oute of Fraunce att home komyng,
Into this citee of their noble kyng.
Of vij. thingis I prayse this cite,
Of trew menyng and fFeytheffuUe observaunce.
Of rightewissnes, trouthe, and equite,
Off stabylnes, ay kept in lyegeaunce,
And fFor of vertu thou hast suche suffisaunce,
In this land here and other landes alle,
The kynges chamber of custura men it calle.
22 i.ydgate''s minor poems,
l'knvoye.
O noble meyer, be it unto your plesaunce,
And to alle that duelle in this cite,
On my rudnesse and on rayne ignorance,
Of grace and mercy for to have pitee,-
My simple makyng for to take at gree,
Considre this that in most lowly wise,
My wille were good for to do yow servise.
ON THE MUTABILITY OF HUMAN AFFAIRS.
From MS. Q. r. 8, fol. 25, in the Library of Jesus College,
Cambridge. Other copies are in MS. Harl. 2251, fol. 15; MS.
Harl. 2255, fol. 3 ; and MS. Ashm. 59.
ALL STANT IN CHAUNGE LIKE A MYDSOMER ROSE.
Lat no man bost of konning nor vertue,
Of tresoure, riches, nor of sapience.
Of worldly support ; for all cometh of Jhesu —
Conseul, confort, discrecion, and prudence.
Provysion for sight and provydence,
Like as the Lorde of Grace list dispose ;
Some man hath wisdome, some man hath eloquence:
All stant in chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
Holsom in smelling be the swete floures.
Full dilectable outwarde to the sight ;
The thorne is sharp kevered with fresshe colours ;
All is not golde that outward shewith bright.
LYDGATE S MINOR POEMS. 23
A stokefissh boon in dirkenes 3eveth a light ;
Tvvene fayre and foule, as God list to dispose ;
A difference betwix day and nyght :
All stant in chaunge like a raydsomer rose.
Floures open upon every grene,
When the larke, messengere of day,
Salveth the uprist of the sonne shene,
Most amerously in April and in INIay.
And Aurora, ageyne, the morowe gray,
Causith the daysy hir croune to unclose,
Worldly gladnes is mailed with affray :
All stant in change like a mydsomer rose.
Atwene cokkovve and the nyghtingale
There is a maner of straunge difference ;
On fressh braunches syngith the wodvvale ;
Jayes in musike have small experience ;
Clatering pyes, whan tha come in presence,
Most malapert there verdit to purpose ;
All thing hath favoure, breifly in sentence,
Of soft or sharpe, like a mydsomer rose.
The royall lyon lete call a perlement,
All beestes aboute hym every on ;
The wolf of malys, being ther present.
Upon the lambe compleynyd ageyn reson, —
Saide he maade his water unholsom,
His tender stomake to hinder and undispose, —
Ravynours reyng the innocent is borne downe :
All stant in chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
24 LyDfiATE's MINOR POEMS.
All worldly thing braidith upon tyrae ;
The Sonne chaungith, so doth the pale mone ;
The aureat noumbre in kalenders set for prime ;
Fortune is double, dooth favour for no boone.
And who that hath with that queue to doon,
Contraiouslj' she will his chaunge dispose ;
Who sittith highest moost like to fall soon :
All stant in chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
The golden chayre of Phebus in the eyre
Chasith mistis blake, that thay dar not appere ;
At whos uprist mounteyns be maade so feyre.
As thei w^ere newly gilt with his bemys clere.
The night doth folowe, appallith all his chere,
Whan Western wawis his stremys overdose ;
Reken all beaute, all fresshnes that is here, —
All stant in chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
Constreynt of colde makith floures dare
With winter frostes, that thei dar not appere ;
All clad in russet, the soil of grene is bare ;
Tellus and Ymo be duUid of theire chere.
By revolucion and turnyng of the yere,
A gery march his stondis doth disclose ; [clere,
Nowe reyne, nowe storme, nowe Phebus bright and
All stant in chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
Where is nowe David, the moost worthy kyng
Of Juda and Israel, moost famous and notable ?
And where is Salamon, moost sovereyn of kunning,
Richest of bj'^lding, of tresoure incomperable ;
lydgate's minor poems. 25
Face of Absolon, moost fayre, moost amable ?
Reken up ichoon, of trouth make no glose ;
Reken up Jonathas, of frenship immutable ;
All stant in chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
Where is Julius, proudest in his empire,
With his triumphes moost imperiall ?
Where is Pirrus, that was lord and sire
Of Ynd, in his estate royall ?
And where is Alexander, that eonquerid all,
Failed laiser his testament to dispose ;
Nabigodonosor, or Sadociopall ?
All stant in chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
Where is Tullius with his sugrid tonge,
Or Crisostomus with his golden mouthe ?
The aureat dytees, that he rade and songe,
Of Omerus in Grece, both North and South ?
The tragides divers and unkouth
Of morall Senec, the misteries to unclose,
By many example is full koutli ;
All stant on chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
Where been of Fraunce all the dozepiere,
W'hich in Gaule had the governaunce ;
Vowis of pecok, with all ther proude chere ;
The worthy nyne, with all ther high bobbaunce ;
Trojan knyghtes, grettest of allyaunce ;
The flees of golde eonquerid in Colchos ;
Rome and Cartage, moost soverayn of puisaunce?
All stant on chaunge like a mydsomer rose.
26 lydgate'h minor poems.
Put in a som all marciall policy I
Complete in Affrike and boundis of Cartage ;
The Theban legeon, exsaumple of Chyvalry,
At Rodomus ryver was expert there corage.
Ten thousand knyghtes, borne of grete parage,
The martirdorae rade in metre and prose ;
The golden crowncs raaade in the hevenly stage
Fressher then lilies, or ony somer rose.
The remembraunce of every famous knyght, —
Ground considred bilt on rightwissnes ;
Rais oute iche quarell that is not bilt on right ;
Withoute trouth what vailith high noblesse ?
Laurear of martirs, foundid on holynes !
White was maade reede there triumphes to disclose;
The white lillye was thei'e chaast clennes ;
Theire blody sufferaunce was no somer rose.
It was the rose of the blody felde ;
Rose of Jhericho that grue in Bedlera ;
The fyve rosis portraid in the shelde,
Splaid in the baner at Jherusalem.
The Sonne was clips and dirke in every reme,
Whan Crist Jhesu five wellys list unclose,
Toward Paradise, callid the reede streme,
Of whos five woundes prynte in your herte a rose.
lydgate's minor poems. 27
ADVICE TO AN OLD GENTLEMAN WHO WISHED
FOR A YOUNG WIFE.
The following poem is one of the best specimens of Lydgate's
composition. It is taken from MS. Harl. 372, fol. 45-51 ; and is,
I believe, the only copy of it known to exist. The subject is a
very favourite one of the time, and a somewhat similar poem was
printed by Wynkyn de Worde, under the title of " The Com-
plainte of them that ben to late maryed."
THE PROHEMY OF A MARIAGE BETWIX AN OLDE MAN
AND A YONGE WIFE, AND THE COUNSAIL, &c.
A PHiLosoPHRE, a good clerk seculer,
Had a frend that sumwhat was aged,
In suche tyraes as wyttes wex under,
Whiche frend of his was at last encoraged,
By flateres that by plesaunce hym faged,
To have a wife, as happethe oftyne tyme,
Where that requethe this fage this sory cryrae.
And yet the man wolde his counsel take.
Of his trewe frende, the clerk that I of tolde,
Whiche was fill fayne feithful counsel to make,
For he was scient, expert, and ful bolde ;
And spared nat the man thouhe he were olde,
For he set not by his wrethe a whistel.
But wrot to hym this esuyng epistel.
Myn olde dere frend, whi aske ye me counsaile ?
If ye shal wedde to plesaunce of your lif.
28 lydgate's minor poems.
Fayne wolde ye wyte, if it were for availe
For you to have a goodly one to wyf, —
Yong, flVesshe, and fiiir, to stynt almaner strif,
To your semyng, and ye be ronne in age,
Which other men calle bondage and dotage.
Take good leyser or thou have mariage,
Be avised on Justynes counsail.
The long cart offte hath hevy cariage,
War placebo, leave hym for thine avail.
After the knot it helpeth nat to bewail,
Thanne is to late to sey, if I had wiste,
Thynk on the end thouhe never so muche the liste.
Remembre wele on olde January,
Whiche maister Chauuceres ful seriously descry vethe.
And on fresshe May, and how Justyne did vary,
Fro placebo, but yet the olde man wy vethe;
Thus sone he wexethe biynde, and than outhryvethe
Fro worldly joye, for he sued bad doctryne ;
Thenk on Damyan, Pluto, and Proserpyne,
Thenk wisely thus, I have but yeres fewe,
And feble I am, and febler shal bee ;
If it me happe be coupled to a shrewe,
My dayes are done, I may not flyt ne flee ;
To shorte my lif and make bonde that was free,
Become prentise and uewe to go to scole ;
Why shulde I so than, were I but a fole?
lydgate's minor poems. 29
Thou seist to me that she is ful demure,
And for thi luf dothe moorne, weepe, and sihe ;
I say an hauke comethe oftyn unto lure,
Whan that a kyte atal wol not come nyghe ;
A curre berkethe and fleethe for he is slighe,
The tauht grehound may sone be ledde away,
Wepyng is vvayt, vengeable this no nay.
Thou answerist me, thou maist none other do ;
I sey to the, thou myhtest if thou wolde ;
Thou seist ageyne, eonstreyned I am therto ;
And I sey efte, that many a coke is colde
Whiche is aged ; and many a cok is olde
On the dungehil, and mayntenethe al his flokke,
But alle oure eyren comen of the yong cokke.
Thou seist me thus, now in my tyme of age
I am feble, and need good help to have,
To keep my good ; I sey thou seist dotage,
Seest thou not ofte a wedowe wed a knave ;
And that the good man hadde that shal he have.
At least the yong that can hym well bestere,