The Knight's Tale
Folio 38r
53 of 54 folios
What makeþ þis bot Iubiter þe kinge
That is prince . & cause of al þinge
Conuertynge aƚƚ vn to his propre wille
Fro whiche it is darreyued soþe to tylle
2175
And here a geynes non creature on lyue
Of no degre aveileþ for to striue
Than is it wisdome as þenkes me
To make vertue of necessitee
And take it wele þat we maye nouht eschewe
2180
And name þat to vs al is dewe
And who gruccheþ ouȝt he doþe folye
And rebel is to him þat al maie guye
And serteinly aman haþ most honoure
To deyen in his excellence & floure
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Whan he is seker of his good name
Than haþe he done his frendes ne him no schame
And gladder ouhte his frendes bene of his deþe
Whan wiþe honoure is ȝolden vp þe breþe
Than whanne his name apalled is for age
2190
For al forȝeten is his vessellage
Than is þe best as for a worþi fame
To deyȝen whan he is best of name
The contrarie of al þis is wilfulnes
Whi grucchen we whi haue we heuynes
2195
That good Arcite of chiualrye þe floure
Departed is wiþ dewte & wiþ honoure
Owte of þis foule Prisone of þis life
Whi gruccheþ here his cosine & his wife
Of his welfare þat loueþ him so wele
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Kanneþ he hem þonke nay . god wote neueradele
That boþen his soule & eke him offende
And ȝit þei mowe her lustes nouȝt amende
What . may .I. conclude of þis longe serie
Bot after woo .I. rede vs to be merie
2205
And þanke Iubiter al his grace
And er we departen frome þis place
.I. rede we make of sorwes two
O parfite Ioye lasteinge euermo
And lokeþe nowe whe moste sorwe is inne
2210
Ther wil .I. first a menden & be gynne .
¶ Suster qd he þis is my ful assente
Wiþ al þau ys here of my parlemente .