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FOR trewthe telleth that loue · is triacle of hevene;
May no synne be on him sene · that useth that spise,
And alle his werkes he wrouȝte · with loue as him liste;
And lered it Moises for the levest thing · and moste like to heuene,
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And also the plante of pees · moste precious of vertues.
For hevene myghte noughte holden it · it was so hevy of hym-self,
Tyle it hadde of the erthe · yeten his fylle,
And what it haved of this folde · flesshe and blode taken,
Was neuere leef upon lynde · lighter ther-after,
And portatyf and persant · as the poynt of a nedle,
That myghte non armure it lette · ne none heigh walles.
For-thi is love leder · of the lordes folke of hevene,
And a mene, as the maire is · bitwene the kyng and the comune,
Right so is love a ledere · and the lawe shapeth
Upon man for his mysdedes · the merciment he taxeth.
And for to knowe it kyndely · it comseth bi myght,
And in the herte, there is the hevede · and the heigh welle.
[ notes ]triacle] sovereign remedy, as him liste] as seemed good to him (Christ). lered] taught. levest] most pleasing.[ notes ]yeten] eaten. lynde] lime tree portatyf] quick-moving, lette] prevent. mene] mediator merciment] fine. kyndely] properly.
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