"That he ys mor strong than I;
Or why am I not (telleth me),
As strong or myghty as ys he?"
Line 10032
Grace dieu: [[St., ce Dieu in Stowe's hand, in margin in C.]]
'Yiff the roote be wel out souht,
Strengere than thow, thát ys he nouht.
But her-vp-on now herkne me:
Thow mayst nat, in no degre,
Line 10036
Hym venquisshe (in conclusïoun),
Oppressyn hym, & bere hym doun
So myghtyly in hys contre,
As thow sholdest, yiff that he
Line 10040
Hadde hys conuersacioun
Wher thow hast domynacïoun.
'In hys contre he doth now dwelle.
Therfor shortly, I the telle,
Line 10044
He hath the gretter ávauntage;
And yt ys sayd off ffolkys Sage,
And a prouerbe wryte off old,
How that euery whyht ys bold
Line 10048
Vy-on hys owne (erly & late),
At the dongel at hys gate;
Strong to makë résystence.
& men sen by experyence,
Line 10052
Ech man mor myghty off hys hond,
Whan he ys in hys ownë lond:
Thys doth hym trusten, & be bold.
'But for al thys that I ha told,
Line 10056
Tak hed in no maner wyse, [Stowe folio 178a]
Ne let nat, for no cowardyse,
Hym tasaayllë ffer nor ner;
ffor yiff thow konne, at the cheker,
Line 10060
Thy drawhtys drawë, & wel pleye,
Make hym lowly to obeye
Vp-on hys dongel, in hys estat, [folio 156a]
Ther, to hym to seyn 'chek maat;'
Line 10064
Thys maat shal be, thorgh thy puissaunce,
To holde hym vnder gouernaunce.
And lyst that he do noon offence,
Kepe hym lowe wyth abstynence,
Line 10068
