fol. 6v

¶ Neverþeles som men by violence.
had but þis clothe . and peces bore awaye.
Such as þei might . wiþ oute reverence
a[n]d did thewith as was un to her paye.
This creature of whome I gan yow saye.
In her honde smale bokes were.
A . ceptre also of full riche araye.
In certeun in her othre honde . she bere.
¶ And whan þis woman sawe þes muses there
unto my beddis side . aproche ny.
endytyng wordes . to my wepyng chere.
She gan to loke upon hem fervently.
who hath she saide lete in þis company.
þus wiþ her songe . þis syke man to plese.
that no þinge helpeth hym . of his malady.
But rather doth hym grevu[n]ce and disese.
¶ lo þes it be . she saide . þat folkes feden.
with swete venym . of corrupcionn.
and tendre hertes make for to belden.
with thornes full of her affectionn.
they selue þe worthi fruytes of resonn.
And onely bryngen siknes in usage.
this is þe kynde of her condicionn.
and noght at all sikenes to aswage.
¶ Yf yee she saide . wiþ youre daliannce.
had fro me draw som fole unprofitable.
Ful lesse hit wolde have . do me displeasannce.
I[?] might have susteyned þat as suffrable.
For whi . in suche a fole . þat is unable .
may not be harmed of my besynes .
But þis þat ev[er]e in stody hath stonde stable.