but in possession; and to hem liche a tree in whiche
sparowes shullen stelen, her birdes to norisshe and forth bringe,
90
under suretee ayenst al raveynous foules and beestes, and not to
be tyraunt them-selfe." And than the smale, in reste and quiete,
by the heedes wel disposed, owen for their soveraynes helth and
prosperitè to pray, and in other doinges in maintenaunce therof
performe, withouten other administracion in rule of any maner
95
governaunce. And they wit have in hem, and grace to come to
suche thinges, yet shulde they cese til their heedes them cleped,
although profit and plesaunce shulde folowe. But trewly, other
governaunce ne other medlinge ought they not to clayme, ne
the heedes on hem to putte. Trewly, amonges cosinage dar
100
I not come, but-if richesse be my mene; sothly, she and other
bodily goodes maketh nigh cosinage, ther never propinquitè ne
alyaunce in lyve was ne shulde have be, nere it for her medling
maners; wherfore kindly am I not ther leged. Povert of
kinred is behynde; richesse suffreth him to passe; truly he saith,
105
he com never of Japhetes childre. Whereof I am sory that
Japhetes children, for povert, in no linage ben rekened, and
Caynes children, for riches, be maked Japhetes heires. Alas! this
is a wonder chaunge bitwene tho two Noës children, sithen that
of Japhetes ofspring comeden knightes, and of Cayn discended
110
the lyne of servage to his brothers childre. Lo! how gentillesse
and servage, as cosins, bothe discended out of two brethern of
one body! Wherfore I saye in sothnesse, that gentilesse in
kinrede †maketh not gentil linage in succession, without desert
of a mans own selfe. Where is now the lyne of Alisaundre the
115
noble, or els of Hector of Troye? Who is discended of right
bloode of lyne fro king Artour? Pardè, sir Perdicas, whom that
Alisandre made to ben his heire in Grece, was of no kinges
bloode; his dame was a tombestere. Of what kinred ben the
gentiles in our dayes? I trow therfore, if any good be in gentilesse,
120
it is only that it semeth a maner of necessitè be input to
gentilmen, that they shulden not varyen fro the vertues of their
auncestres. Certes, al maner linage of men ben evenliche in
birth; for oon †fader, maker of al goodnes, enformed hem al,
and al mortal folk of one sede arn greyned. Wherto avaunt men
125
of her linage, in cosinage or in †elde-faders? Loke now the ginning,
and to god, maker of mans person; there is no clerk ne no
worthy in gentilesse; and he that norissheth his †corage with
vyces and unresonable lustes, and leveth the kynde course, to
whiche ende him brought forth his birthe, trewly, he is ungentil,
130
and among †cherles may ben nempned. And therfore, he that
wol ben gentil, he mot daunten his flesshe fro vyces that causen
ungentilnesse, and leve also reignes of wicked lustes, and drawe
to him vertue, that in al places gentilnesse gentilmen maketh.
And so speke I, in feminine gendre in general, of tho persones,
135
at the reverence of one whom every wight honoureth; for her
bountee and her noblesse y-made her to god so dere, that his
moder she became; and she me hath had so greet in worship,
that I nil for nothing in open declare, that in any thinge ayenst her
secte may so wene. For al vertue and al worthinesse of plesaunce
140
in hem haboundeth. And although I wolde any-thing speke,
trewly I can not; I may fynde in yvel of hem no maner mater.'
Ch. II. 1. meane. ganne. 4. stretche. somdele. 7. ganne.
11. none. 12. thynge. 15. sey; read seye or seyen. 16. thorowe. 17. made. 19. sayne. 20. wote. 21. wonte. 23. nowe. 24. seasonable. 26. sayne. 27. corne. 28. layde. 29. knytte. amonge (twice). wyche; read whicche. 30. layde. 31. amonge horse. shepe. nete. 33. woste. 36. bare. 37. went. 40. grefe. 41. pay. great. 44. preache.
45. deuoute. 46. nowe. 47. Nowe. 48. stewarde. nowe. it; read is. nowe. 49. eschetoure. nowe. 50. I supply hath his. 51. encrease. 56. eate beane-. 58. lythe. gone. horse. 59. easy. beare. great. 61. meate-. borde-. 65. boke. leude chapelayne. 66. harte. 67. great. 68. nothynge. 69. amonge. dare. 70. sayne. 71. forthe; read force. 72. worthe. pleasen. 73. to-forne-. 74. nothynge. 76. sorye. se. 78. polesye. 79. treaten. wytte.
80. subiecte. reason. 82. worthe. 83. reignatyfe. 85. ayenwarde. 87. lorde. 88. possessoure. 89. forth bring. 90. suretie. 96. cease. 97. profyte. pleasaunce. 99. put. dare. 100. meane. 109. comeden (sic); read comen? 110. howe. 111. bretherne. 113. maken; read maketh. deserte. 114. nowe.
118. tombystere. 123. one. father; read fader. 124. folke. arne. 125. -fathers; read -faders. 126. clerke. 127. corare; read corage. 128. leaueth. 129. forthe. 130. amonge. clerkes (!); read cherles. 131. mote. 132. leaue. 136. bountie. 137. great. 139. maye.
CHAPTER III.
Right with these wordes she stinte of that
