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FOUR THINGS THAT MAKE A MAN A FOOL

and

YIT OF THE SAME


Four Things that Make a Man a Fool
and Yit of the Same
Edited by Kathleen Forni
Originally Published in The Chaucerian Apocrypha: A Selection
Kalamazoo, Michigan: Medieval Institute Publications for TEAMS, 2005

   
   
   
   
   
   
5   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
10   
   
   
   
   
   
 A Seying of Daun Johan

Ther beothe foure thinges that maketh man a fool:
Honnour first putethe him in oultrage,
And alder nexst solytarye and sool;
The secound is unweldy crooked aage;
Wymmen also bring men in dotage,
And mighty wyne in many dyvers wyse
Distempren folk wheche beon holden wyse.

Yit of the Same

Ther beon foure thinges causing gret folye:
Honnour first, and unweldy aage,
Wymmen an wyne, I dare eeke specefye,
Make wyse men fallen in dotage;
Wherfore, by counseyle of phylosofres saage,
In gret honnour lerne this of me:
With thyne estate have humylytee.

are
in [a state of] intemperance
next; alone
infirm

different ways
Impairs





and; also








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