John Gower - Confessio Amantis

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Bot for men sein, and soth it is,
That who that al of wisdom writ
It dulleth ofte a mannes wit
To him that schal it aldai rede,
For thilke cause, if that ye rede,
I wolde go the middel weie
And wryte a bok betwen the tweie,
Somwhat of lust, somewhat of lore.

John Gower

What is a lond wher men ben none?
What ben the men whiche are alone
Withoute a kinges governance?
What is a king in his ligance,
Wher that ther is no lawe in londe?
What is to take lawe on honde,
Bot if the jugges weren trewe?

John Gower

Nevere yit
Was non, which half so loste his wit
Of drinke, as thei of such thing do
Which cleped is the jolif wo.

John Gower

But in proverbe I have herde say,
That who that wel his werk beginneth,
The rather a good end he winneth.

John Gower

He hath the sor which no man heleth,
The which is cleped lack of herte.

John Gower

The beauté faye upon her face
Non erthly thing it may desface.

John Gower

It hath and schal ben evermor
That love is maister wher he wile.

John Gower

O fol of alle foles,
Thou farst as he betwen tuo stoles
That wolde sitte and goth to grounde.

John Gower

A king may spille, a king may save; A king may make of lorde a knave; And of a knave a lorde also.

John Gower