| 185 | But certeinly a yong thing may men gye | |
| | Right as a man with hondis warm wexe plye | |
| | Therfore I say you pleynly in a clause | |
| | I wol non olde wyf haue for this cause | |
| | For yf so were yf y hadde suche myschaunce | |
| 190 | That I in here coude haue no plesaunce | |
| | Than sholde I lede my lif in avontrye | |
| | And so streight to the deuel whan y dye | |
| | Ne children sholde I non on here getyn | |
| | Yet hadde I leuyr houndis hadde me etyn | |
| 195 | Than that myn heritage shulde falle | |
| | In straunge hond & thus I telle you al | |
| | I doute not I woot the cause why | |
| | Men sholde wedde and ferthermore woot I | |
| | There spekith meny men of mariage | |
| 200 | That woot nomore of it than doth my page | |
| | For whiche causis men sholde take a wyf | |
| | Yf he may not chast be . be his wyf | |
| | Take hym a wyf with greet deuocion | |
| | Be cause of lefful procreacion | |
| 205 | Of childryn to the honour of god aboue | |
| | And not only for paramour ne for loue | |
| | And for they sholde lecherye eschue | |
| | And yelde her dette while it is newe | |
| | Or for that eche man sholde helpe othir | |
| 210 | In myschief as the sustir shal the brothir | |
| | And lyue in chastite ful heuenly | |
| | But sires be your leue that am not I | |
| | For god bethankid I dar make auaunt | |
