The Knight's Tale
Folio 43r
3 of 63 folios
Vnder oure foot on which we trede and goon
Yet wasteþ it as it liþ by þe weye
2160
The brode ryuer som tyme wexeþ dreye
The grete townes see we wane and wende
Þan ȝe see þat aƚƚ þis þing haþ ende
Of man and woman se we wel also
That needeth in oon of þe termes tuo
2165
This is to sein in ȝouþe or elles age
He moot be deed þe king as schal þe page
Som in his bedd . som in þe deepe see
Som in the large feeld as ȝe may see /
Ther helpeþ nought al goþ þat ilke weye
2170
Than may I sein that al þis þing moot deye
What maketh þis but Iuppiter þe king /
That is Prince and cause of aƚƚ þing
Conuertyng alle vnto his propre wille
From which it is darreyued soþ to tille
2175
And heer agayns no creature on lyue
Of no degree auailleþ for to stryue
Thanne is it wisdom as it þenkeþ me
To make vertue of necessite /
And take it wel þat we may not eschewe
2180
And nameliche þat to vs aƚƚ is dewe
And rebeƚƚ is to him þat aƚƚ may gye
And certeinly a man haþ most honour
To deyen in his excellence and flour
2185
Whan he is siker of his goode name
Than haþ he doon his freendes ne him no schame
And gladder oughte his freendes ben of his deþ
Whan wiþ honour y yolden is vp þe breþ
Than whan his name apalled is for age
2190
For al forgeten is his vessellage
Than is the beste as for a worthy fame
To deyen whan he is best of name
The contrarie of aƚƚ þis is wilfulnesse
Why grucchen we why haue we heuynesse /