fol. 1v

But I must use [th]e wittes [th]at I have.
[th]ough I may nou[gh]t so do yit not for thy.
wi[th] helpe of god [th]e sentece shall I save.
// ¶ To .Chaucer. [th]at is floure of rethorike.
In english tonge and excellent poete.
[th]is wote I wele no [th]inge may I do like.
[th]ough [th]at I of makynge entremete[?].
and .Gower. [th]at is so crafty dothe trete.
and in his boke of moralite
[th]ough I to hem in makynge am unmete
yit must I shewe hit forthe [th]at is in me.
¶ Not liketh me to laboure ne to muse.
upon [th]e olde poyesies derk.
For cristes seith such [th]inge shulde refuse.
wittenesse upon .Jerom. [th]e holy clerk.
hit shulde not be a cristen mannes werke.
to fals goddes names to renewe.
For he [th]at hath receyved cristes merke
yf he so do to Crist he is untrewe.
¶ Of [th]o [th]at crist in heven blisse shalle.
Suche maner werke shulde be sette a syde.
For certeynly hit nede[th] not at alle.
to whette now [th]e dartes of Cupyde.
ne for to bidde [th]at .venus. be oure guyde.
so [th]at we may oure foule lustes wynne
on a[??]toure; lest [th]e same on us betyde
as tyd [th]e same .Venus. for her synne.
¶ And certeyn I have tastid wondre lyte
as of [th]e welles of .Calliope.
no wondre [th]ough I sympely endyte
yitte wille I not unto Tessiphone.