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Somtyme in Grece, that noble region,
There were eight clerkes of grete science,
Philosophers of notable discretion,
Of whom was asked, to prove their prudence,
Eight questions of derke intellygence;
To whiche they answered, after their entent,
As here dothe appere playne and evydent.
The fyrst questyon: What erthly thyng
Is best, and to God moost commendable?
The first clerke answered without tarying:
"A mannes soule ever ferme and stable
In right, from trouthe nat varyable;
But nowe, alas, ful sore may we wepe,
For covetyse hath brought trouth a slepe."
The seconde: What thyng is moost odious?
"A double man," sayd the philosophre,
"With a virgyn face and a tayle venomous,
With a fayre vieu and a false profre;
A corrupte caryen in a golden coffour,
It is a monster in natures lynage,
One man to have a double vysage."
The thirde: What is the best dower
That maye be to a wyfe appropriate?
"A clene lyfe," was the clerkes aunswer,
"Without synne, chast, and invyolate
From al disceytes and speches inornate,
Or countenaunce, whiche shal be to dispyse:
No fyre make and no smoke wol aryse!"
The fourth questyon: What mayden may
Be called clene in chastyté?
The fourth clerke answered: "Whiche alway
Every creature is ashamed on to lye,
Of whom every man reporteth great honesté;
Good maydens kepe your chastyté forthe,
And remembre that good name is golde worthe."
Who is a poore man, ever ful of wo?
"A covetouse man whiche is a nygon,
He that in his herte can never say 'ho';
The more good, the lesse distributyon,
The richer, the worse of condityon;
Men in this cost clepen him a nygarde;
Sir Guy the bribour is his stewarde."
Whiche is a riche man withouten fraude?
"He that can to his good suffyse,
Whatsoever he hath, he geveth God the laude,
And kepeth him clene from al covetyse;
He desyreth nothyng in ungoodly wyse;
His body is here, his mynde is above:
He is a riche man, for God doth him love."
Who is a foole, is the seventh demaunde.
"He that wolde hurte and hath no powere,
Myght he, mykel moche wolde he commaunde,
His malyce great, his myght nought were;
He thretteth ful faste, ful lytel may he dere;
Thynketh nat howe men have sayd beforne:
God sendeth a shreude cowe a shorte horne!"
Who is a wyse man, is the eight question:
"He that myght noye and dothe no noyaunce,
Myght punysshe and leaveth punyssion;
A man mercyful without vengeaunce;
A wyse man putteth in remembraunce,
Sayeng, 'Had I venged al myne harme,
My cloke had nat be furred halfe so warme!'"
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Once
learning
moral discernment
difficult subject matter
opinion
caused; to be neglected
innocent
offer
decayed corpse; coffin; (see note)
family
dowry
pure
indecorous
conduct
to slander; (see note)
continuously
miser
stop
spending
condition
swindler; overseer; (see note)
is able to be content with his prosperity
gives; praise
question
(see note)
very
threaten; injure
malicious; (see note)
harm; injury; (see note)
avenged; (see note)
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