The Knight's Tale
Folio 173v
58 of 60 folios
Lo þõ ok that hath so long a norichynge
Frō the tyme þt it ferst begȳnyth to sprynge
2155
And hat so long a lyf as we may se
Ȝit at the laste wastyd is the tre
Considerith ek how that the harde ston
Vndir oure fet on whiche we trede & gon
Ȝit wastith it as it lyth be the weye
2160
The brode reuyr sūtyme waxeth dreye
The grete toūnys se we wane & wende
Than may I say þt al þis thyng hath ende
Of man & woman se we we wel alsoo
That nedyth in on of þese termys too
2165
This is to seyne in ȝouthe or ellys age
He mote be ded the kyng as schal a page
Some in his bed some in the depe se
Some in the large feld as men may se
There helpith not al goth that ilke weye
2170
Thanne may I seyn al þis þyng mote nedis deye
What makyth þis but Iupiter þõ kyng
That is prynce & cause of alle thyng
Conuertynge al vn to hese propere welle
Frō wiche it is dery\v/it soth to telle
2175
And here ageyn no cryator on . lyue
Of no degre a uaylith for to stryue
Thāne is it wisdom as it þynkyt me
To makyn vertu of necessite
And take it wel that we may not eschewe
2180
And nameli that to vs alle is dewe
And ho so grochit out he doth folye
And rebel is to hȳ þt al may gye
And serteynly a man hath most honor
To deyen in hese excellence & flour
2185
Whan he is sekyr of hese goode name
Thāne hath he don hese frend ne hȳ no schame
And gladdere owith hese frend to ben of deth
Whan wt honor is ȝoldyn vp hese breth