167
The name of thys lady was callyd Prescience.
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She neuer left Vyce, ne noon that wold hym folow,
Tyll they wer commyttyd by the diuine sentence
All to peyne perpetuell and infynyte sorow.
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Ryghtwysnes went to see that no man shuld hem borow.
Thus all entretyd sharpely were they, tyll Cerberus
Had hem beshut withyn hys gates tenebrus.
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168
And all the whyle that Prescience with her scorge smert
To rewarde Vyce gan hyr thus occupy,
With all hys hoole bende, aftyr her desert,
That other gloryous lady that came fro heuyn on hy,
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Hauyng in her hande the palme of vyctory,
Came downe to Vertu and toke hym to that present,
Seying thus that Alpha & Oo haue hym sent.
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169
And as ferre as I aryght cowde vndyrstand
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That ladyes name was Predestinacion.
Vertu & hys hoost she blessyd with her hand
And in heuen grauntyd hem habitacion,
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Where to eche of hem reseruyd was a crown,
She seyde, in token that they enherytours
Of the glory were and gracious conquerours.
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170
Whyche doon, thoo ladyes ayene togedyr met
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And toward heuyn vp they gan to [fly],
Embrasyd in armes as they had be knet
Togedyr with a gyrdyll; but so sodenly
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As they were vanysshyd saw I neuer thyng with ey.
And anon Vertew with all hys company
Knelyd down and thankyd God of that vyctory.
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171
Yet had I foryete when Vyce was ouerthrow
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To haue tolde yow how many of Vyce hys oost
Gan to seek Peese, and darkyd downe full low,
And besought Mercy, what so euer hys cost,
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To be her mene to Vertew, elles they were but lost.
And som in lyke wyse to Feythe & Hoope sought
What to do, for peese they seyde they ne rought.
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