The Example of Vertu | Page 7

alway bable
This wyll I proue by myn opynyon?That I am grounde of the artes seuen?And of all good werkes in c[om]munyon?For no man without me can go to heuen?My dedys be merueylous for man to neuen?Whan they ben wrought in to theyr degre?Who that wyll lerne theym he hath the lyberte
Of my dedes bokes do make recorde?The whiche clerkes put into remembraunce?For an example without dyscorde?Of heuenly way by vertuous gouernaunce?Without me man can haue no pleasaunce?Nor yet hym rule in no maner wyse?A man without wytte is to dyspyse
Hardynes without prudence may not auayle?Though that a man be neuer so sturdy?For a wyseman feble may wynne the batayle?Of hym that is ryght stronge and myghty?For better it is for to be ryght wytty?In the defence of his good saue garde?Than often to stryke and to renne forwarde
That thynge that hardynes may not wynne?May be goten by my hyghe souerente?And with the helpe of subtyle engynne?It may be brought to the extremyte?Wher that it myght not by possybylyte?Of hardynes longe afore be wonne?Yet by grete wysedome it may be donne
Vnto dyuers cases I take excepcyon?Of dame Hardynes whiche are no lawe?Vnto the fyrst vndre your correccyon?She sayd and she her power dyd wythdrawe?No rebell than shold stand in awe?And she is the chyef as I knowe well?That causeth hym for to be rebell
By her foly and folysshe hardynes?She causeth men to ryse ayenst theyr lorde?She is the cause of mortall heuynes?Whan she doth breke the good concorde?Wherfore me thynke by one accorde?For to exyle her it is now the best?Than man sholde lyue in peas and rest
And where she sayd that she exalted?Iulius cesar by her grete exylence?In that case she ryght clerely varyed?For it was I by my grete dylygence?That neuer was out of his presence?But ruled hym and made hym worthy?To be chosen emperour of all Italy
Chosen he was by the comyn assent?For the grete wysedome that in hym shone?With a grete voyce and a hole entente?For lyke vnto hym was there none?That was so abell as he alone?For to occupye an Emperours dygnyte?Of his promocyon he myght thanke me
I Sapyence am endewed with grace?And the lode sterre of heuenly doctryne?The sprynge of comfort Ioye and solace?Who that lyst to me for to enclyne?He shall knowe thynges that be dyuyne?And at his ende beholde the deyte?That is one god and persones thre
It pleased the fader that is omnipotent?His sone to send to be incarnat?Of the vyrgyn Mary the sterre moost excellent?Mayden and moder yet not vyolate?Lyke a vessell chosen and made ornat?All onely for to be goddys moder?And he hym selfe vnto man broder
But a stryfe there was bytwene god and man?Whan man consented to synne dedely?By that the dyscorde fyrst began?Whan he the sone of god on hy?That is his brother agayn wyll crucefy?Yf he had power by whiche is offended?The fader of heuen as is entended
Therfore lete vs to our brother go?Named Ihesu Cryst and axe hym mercy?With a good entent and hert also?There is for vs none other remedy?That ony tonge truely can specyfy?And he wyll take it for a correccyon?And of all vengeaunce sease the affeccyon
That we may of hym haue forgyuenes?Of our grete synne with reformacyon?Of peas bytwene the faders hyghenes?Of heuen and vs in suspyracyon?Therfore yf thou drede the amocyon?Of his ryghtwysnes loke that thou flee?Ryght fast vnto his mercyfull pyte
For his mercy is more than all our mysery?And eke aboue his werkes all?As Dauyd sheweth in his prophecy?Saynge his mercy is ouer all?To whom I pray euer in especyall?To gyue me grace well my penne to lede?That quaketh aye for drede
Dame Sapyence sayd I do procede?Of the strength of the holy ghoost?That is and shall be mater in dede?God and lorde of myghtys moost?Whose infynall power was neuer lost?And yet neuer had no begynnynge?But alway lyke stronge without endynge
Where that dame hardynes in her pledynge?Made her selfe to knyghtes moost necessary?By the meanes of her power shewynge?That I by ryght do now well deny?For in that case she dyd moche vary?For syxe there are that more profyte be?Of whiche the lest is better than she
The fyrst is prudence that is the chefe?That hym doth rule and is his gyde?And kepeth hym from grete reprefe?And causeth his worshyp for to abyde?So euery crysten man shold prouyde?By his wit to withstand the deuyll?That he consent not to do euyll
The seconde is that he sholde be true?To his souerayn lorde that on hym reyneth?And all treason for euer to eschewe?In whiche grete shame often remayneth?And by whiche he hiz k[yn]ge dysteyneth?So a crysten man sholde be true euer?To Ihesu Cryst that was his redemer
The thyrde is that he sholde be lyberall?Amonge his c[om]mons withouten lette?That is the cause euer in generall?That he the loue of theym doth gette?For it causeth theyr hertes on hym