'Hastow nat herd me Rad [[redde St.]] yt al,
And told ek in especyal,
Record by my commyssïoun,
That I am callyd 'dame Resoun'?
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I trowe thy wyt ys fer the fro;
Or I deme yt stondeth so
Thow louest somwher paramours,
Or besy art [[thow art St.]] to maken tours
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Or castellys, by gret devys,
Therby to geten the A prys."
Rude Entendement: [[St., om. C.]]
'I hauë,' quod he, 'vp & doun
Herknyd thy commyssïoun,
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And vnderstonde yt euerydel;
And therby I se ful wel [Stowe folio 187a]
That thy name ys ek 'Resoun.'
'But a replicacïoun
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I wyl make vp-on thy name,
Wych ys hyndred by dyffame;
ffor that name sykerly
Ys dyffamyd ful gretly;
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Wherfore I myghte nat for-bere
ffor to axe what thow were,
To knowe thy power & thy myght:
Me sempte her-in I haddë ryht.'
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Resoun: [[St., om. C.]]
'Seystow,' quod she, 'that my name
Ys a namë off dyffame
Or dysclaundryd? lat me se
How or where that myghtë be.'
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Rude Entendement: [[St., om. C.]]
'Certys,' quod he, 'yiff thow lyst here,
The placë wel I shal the lere; [folio 164a]
I wyl nat spare, but platly telle:
Thow art dyffamyd at the melle, [Raison est au moulin: Pro. (Belike because Grist is taken in, and delivered out, by measure.)—Cotgrave, 1611. Raison, (sailor's) ration. 'Ratio, mesure.'—D'Arnis.]
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And disclaundryd off ffals mesour,
By robberye off mele & flour
