melodye; and I gan with a lyvely herte to praye, if that
it were lyking unto her noble grace, she wolde her deyne to
declare me the mater that firste was begonne, in which she lefte
5
and stinte to speke beforn she gan to singe.
'O,' quod she, 'this is no newe thing to me, to sene you men
desyren after mater, whiche your-selfe caused to voyde.'
'Ah, good lady,' quod I, 'in whom victorie of strength is proved
above al other thing, after the jugement of Esdram, whos lordship
10
al lignes: who is, that right as emperour hem commaundeth,
whether thilke ben not women, in whos lyknesse to me ye aperen?
For right as man halt the principaltè of al thing under his beinge,
in the masculyne gender; and no mo genders ben there
but masculyn and femenyne; al the remenaunt ben no gendres but
15
of grace, in facultee of grammer: right so, in the femenyne, the
women holden the upperest degree of al thinges under thilke
gendre conteyned. Who bringeth forth kinges, whiche that ben
lordes of see and of erthe; and al peoples of women ben born.
They norisshe hem that graffen vynes; they maken men comfort
20
in their gladde cheres. Her sorowe is deth to mannes herte.
Without women, the being of men were impossible. They conne
with their swetnesse the crewel herte ravisshe, and make it meke,
buxom, and benigne, without violence mevinge. In beautee
of their eyen, or els of other maner fetures, is al mens desyres;
25
ye, more than in golde, precious stones, either any richesse.
And in this degree, lady, your-selfe many hertes of men have
so bounden, that parfit blisse in womankynde to ben men wenen,
and in nothinge els. Also, lady, the goodnesse, the vertue of
women, by propertè of discrecion, is so wel knowen, by litelnesse
30
of malice, that desyre to a good asker by no waye conne they
warne. And ye thanne, that wol not passe the kynde werchinge
of your sectes by general discrecion, I wot wel, ye wol so enclyne
to my prayere, that grace of my requeste shal fully ben graunted.'
'Certes,' quod she, 'thus for the more parte fareth al mankynde,
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to praye and to crye after womans grace, and fayne many fantasyes
to make hertes enclyne to your desyres. And whan these
sely women, for freeltè of their kynde, beleven your wordes, and
wenen al be gospel the promise of your behestes, than graunt[en]
they to you their hertes, and fulfillen your lustes, wherthrough
40
their libertè in maystreship that they toforn had is thralled; and
so maked soverayn and to be prayed, that first was servaunt,
and voice of prayer used. Anon as filled is your lust, many of you
be so trewe, that litel hede take ye of suche kyndnesse; but
with traysoun anon ye thinke hem begyle, and let light of that
45
thing whiche firste ye maked to you wonders dere; so what
thing to women it is to loven any wight er she him wel knowe,
and have him proved in many halfe! For every glittring thing
is nat gold; and under colour of fayre speche many vices may
be hid and conseled. Therfore I rede no wight to trust on you
50
to rathe; mens chere and her speche right gyleful is ful ofte.
Wherfore without good assay, it is nat worth on many †of you
to truste. Trewly, it is right kyndely to every man that thinketh
women betraye, and shewen outward al goodnesse, til he have
his wil performed. Lo! the bird is begyled with the mery voice
55
of the foulers whistel. Whan a woman is closed in your nette,
than wol ye causes fynden, and bere unkyndenesse her †on
hande, or falsetè upon her putte, your owne malicious trayson
with suche thinge to excuse. Lo! than han women non other
wreche in vengeaunce, but †blobere and wepe til hem list stint,
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and sorily her mishap complayne; and is put in-to wening that
al men ben so untrewe. How often have men chaunged her
loves in a litel whyle, or els, for fayling their wil, in their
places hem set! For fren[d]ship shal be oon, and fame with another
him list for to have, and a thirde for delyt; or els were he lost
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bothe in packe and in clothes! Is this fair? Nay, god wot.
I may nat telle, by thousande partes, the wronges in trechery
of suche false people; for make they never so good a bond,
al sette ye at a myte whan your hert tourneth. And they that
wenen
