| | Than is it wisedom as thynketh me | |
| | To make vertu of necessite | |
| | And take it whilis we may not it eschewe | |
| 2180 | And thynketh that to vs alle it is due | |
| | And who so grucchith he doth folye | |
| | And rebel is to hym that al may gye | |
| | And certeinly aman hath most honour | |
| | To dien in his most excellent flour | |
| 2185 | Whan he is sikir of his good name | |
| | Than hath he do his frend no harm ne shame | |
| | And gladder may his frend be of his deth | |
| | Whan with honour so vp yolden is his breth | |
| | Than whan his name appallid is for age | |
| 2190 | For al foryeten is than his vasselage | |
| | Than is hit best as for a worthy fame | |
| | To dien whan he is best of name | |
| | The contrary eke for al his wilfulnesse | |
| | Why grucche we why haue we heuynesse | |
| 2195 | That good arcite of cheualrie the flour | |
| | Departyd is with duete and honour | |
| | Out of the foule pryson of this lif | |
| | Why grucchid his cosyn and his wif | |
| | Of his welfare that loueth hym so weel | |
| 2200 | Can he hem thanke nay god woot neuer a deel | |
| | That bothe his soule and eke hym offende | |
| | And yet they mowe her lustis not amende | |
| | What shal I conclude of this longe story | |
| | But aftir wo I rede vs be mery | |
| 2205 | And thonke Iupiter of al his grace | |
