Incipit ffabula. [on leaf 128, back]
WHilome þer was dwellinge in lumbardie
A worþi knyht þat borne was in Paue
In whiche he leued in grete prosperite
And .xl. ȝere a wifles man was he
Line 1248
And folowde aye his bodely delite
On wemmen was his hole appetite
As done þes foles þat bu seculere
And whan þat he was passed .lx. ȝere
Line 1252
Were it for holynes or for dotage
.I. can nouht seie but suche a grete corage
Had þis knyht to be a wedded man
1Þat daie and nyht he doþ al þat he can
To aspie where he myht wedded be1 [1_1 repeated on leaf 129]
Preinge oure lorde to grant him þat he [folio 129a]
myht ones knowe þat blisful life
þat is betwex an husbond and his wif
Line 1260
And for to leue vnder þat holy honde
Wiþ wiche god first man and womman bonde
None oþer life seide he is worþe a bene
For wedlok is so esy and so clene
Line 1264
That in þis werlde it is a paradise
Thus seide þis olde knyht þat was so wise
An certeinly as soþe as godde is kenge
To take a wif it is a gloriouse þinge
Line 1268
And namely whan a man is olde and hore
þan is a wif fruyt of his tresore
þan scholde he take a ȝonge wif and a faire
On whiche he myht engender him an heire
Line 1272
