'Therby to han experyence
ffor to makë résistence
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Ageyn al thy mortal ffon.
'But herkene vn-to me A-noon:
Conceyuë (for conclusïoun)
Yt ys a gret [[a ffulle St. [Stowe folio 158a] ]] confusïoun
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To the (yiff thow lyst to lere,)
That she wych ys thy chaumberere
Sholde, affter the, thyn armys bere;
And thow thy-sylff darst hem nat were,
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Nor wyth thy fynger touche hem nouht,
Swych dred & fer ys in thy thouht, [folio 139a]
Thow braydest on a koward knyht,
Resemblynge hem that dar nat ffyht:
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I holde hem nat goode werryours,
Manly knyhtes, nor conquerours,
That hange her sheldys vp on [[vp on C., on St.]] the wal,
To make a mowstre in specyal,
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Outward by, as by apparence,
ffor to shewe the excellence
Off ther rychesse by fressh array;
And ther bodyes, nyht nor day,
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Nor them sylff, dar nat a-vaunce
To handle [[To handle St., Tandle C.]] nouther swerd nor launce;
But outward shewyn ffressh peyntures
Off dyuers bestys and ffygures,
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Lyk to manly champyouns,
As they wolden slen lyouns
In dyffence off ther contre.
And yet, par cas, yt may so be,
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Ther bodyes strongëly [[strongely St., strongly C.]] tassure,
They stuffe her somerys wyth armure,
Wych ay hem folweth at the bak,
That in shewyng ther be no lak;
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And for al that, (who taketh hede)
And yt kome vn-to the nede,
(I mene, as off a mortal werre,) [Stowe folio 158b]
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They woldë hem sylff holde [[holde St., om. C.]] afferre,
To preue her manhood & hyr myght.
'But I holde hym a manly knyght,
