(290)
Right humbly axyng of you [the] licence, [folio 40b]
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That with my penne I may to you declare
(So as that kan my wittës innocence,)
Myne inward wille that thursteth the welefare
Of your persone; and ellës be I bare
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Of blisse, whan þat the coldë stroke of deth
My lyfe hath quenched, & me byraft my breth.
(291)
Though that my livelode and possession
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Be skant, I riche am of beneuolence;
To you therof kan I be no nygon:
Goode haue I none, by whiche your excellence
May plesëd be; &, for myne impotence
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Stoppeth the way to do as I were holde,
I write as he þat your goode lyfë faynë wolde.
(292)
Aréstotle, most famous Philosofre,
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His Epistles to Alisaundre sent,
Whos sentence is wel bette than [that R.] gold in cofre,
And more holsomer grounded to trewe entent:
For all þat euer tho Epistles ment,
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To settë was þis worthy Conquerour,
In reulë, how to sústene his honour.
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(293)
The tendir loue, and the feruént chiertee
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That this worthy clerk ay to this kyng bere,
Trustyng his welthë durable to be,
Vnto his hert[è] stak and satte so nere,
That by writýng his counseill yave he clere
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Vnto his lord, to kepe hym fro myschaunce,
As witnesseth his booke of gouernaunce.
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