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[6-text p 256]
¶ Heere bigynneth / the Monkes tale / de casibus virorum Illustrium. [on leaf 173]
Iwol biwaille / in manere of Tragedie [[Painting of the Monk and two dogs]]
The harm of hem / that stoode in heigh degree
And fillen so / that ther nas no remedie
To brynge hem / out of hir aduersitee
Line 3184
ffor certein / whan þat ffortune list to flee
Ther may no man / the cours of hire withholde
Lat no man truste / on blynd prosperitee
Be war of thise ensamples / trewe and olde
Line 3188
[Lucifer.]
AT lucifer / though / he an Angel were [¶ Lucifer]
And nat a man / at hym wol I bigynne
ffor though ffortune / may noon Angel dere
ffrom heigh degree / yet fel he for his synne
Line 3192
Doun in to helle / where he yet is Inne
O Lucifer/ brightest . of Angels alle
Now artow sathanas / þat mayst nat twynne
Out of miserie / in which þat thou art falle
Line 3196
[Adam.]
Loo Adam / in the feeld of Damyssene [¶ Adam]
With goddes owene fynger/ wroght was he
And nat bigeten / of mannes sperme vnclene
And welte all Paradys / sauynge o tree
Line 3200
Hadde neuere worldly man so heigh degree
As Adam / til he for mysgouernance
Was dryuen / out of hys hye prosperitee
To labour and to helle / and to meschance
Line 3204