177
And with that came Sadnesse with hys sobre chere,
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Bryngyng Sensualyte, beyng full of thought,
And seyde that he had take hym prysonere.
"A welcome!" seyde Vertew, "now haue I that I sought.
Blessyd be that good lord as thow wolde ys hit nought."
"Why art thow so wantoun & wylde," he seyde, "for shame!
Er thow go at large thow shalt be made more tame.
178
"But stande apart awhyle tyll I haue spoke a woorde
Line 1240
With Frewyll a lytell, & then shalt thow know
What shalbe thy finaunce;" & then he seyde in boorde
Vnto Frewyll, "The bende of your bowe
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Begynneth to slake, but suche as ye haue sowe
Must ye nedes reepe—ther ys noon other way.
Natwithstandyng that let see what ye can say.
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179
"What ys your habylyte me to recompense
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For the gret harme that ye to me haue do?"
"Forsothe," seyd Frewyll in opyn audyense,
"But oonly Macrocosme more haue I nat lo.
Line 1250
Take that, yef hit plese yow, I wyll that hit be so.
Yef I may vndyrstand, ye be my good lorde."
"In dede," seyde Vertu, "to that wyll I acorde."
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180
Then made Vertu Reson hys lyeftenaunt,
Line 1254
And yaue hym a gret charge Macrocosme to kepe.
That doon, Sensualyte yelde hym recreaunt,
And began for to angre byttyrly to wepe.
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For he demyd sewerly hys sorow shuld nat slepe.
Then made Vertu Frewyll bayll[e] vndyr Reson,
The felde for to occupy to hys behoue that seson.
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181
And then seyde Vertu to Sensualyte,
Line 1261
"Thow shalt be rewardyd for thy besynesse.
Vndyr thys fourme all fragylyte
Shalt thow forsake, bothe more & lesse,
Line 1264
And vnder the guydyng shalt thow be of Sadnesse.
All though hit somewhat be ageyn thy hert,
Thy iugement ys yeuyn—thow shalt hit nat astert."
