Chaucerian and Other Pieces/Piece28

by Anonymous

[ Introduction for this Piece ] | [ Notes on this Piece ]

XXVIII. SAYINGS PRINTED BY CAXTON.

1. Whan feyth failleth in prestes sawes,
And lordes hestes ar holden for lawes,
And robbery is holden purchas,
And lechery is holden solas,
Than shal the lond of Albyon 5
Be brought to grete confusioun.

2. Hit falleth for every gentilman
To saye the best that he can
In [every] mannes absence,
And the soth in his presence. 10

3. Hit cometh by kynde of gentil blode
To cast away al hevines,
And gadre to-gidre wordes good;
The werk of wisdom berith witnes.

⁠Et sic est finis.

XXVIII. From Caxton's print of Chaucer's Anelida, &c.; see vol. i. p. 46. Also in ed. 1542, in later spelling.

7. Cx. euery. 9. I supply every. 12. Cx. heuynes. 14. Cx. wisedom.