Chaucerian and Other Pieces. Various

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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;

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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

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      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

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