'That the cyte [[Citee St.]] off Babiloun
Line 14224
Wyth al [[alle St., om. C.]] hys gretë Ryalte, [folio 216a]
Wyth al [[alle St., om. C.]] hys fforce and hys bewte,
Was bylt and mad by hym only:
Thys was hys bost; and ffynally
Line 14228
With thys belwes I made a levene,
The fflawme touchyde nyh the heuene,
But affterward yt gan abate,
Yt lasteth nat by no long date.
Line 14232
'And as gret wynd (who lyst to se)
Smyt al the ffrut doun off A tre,
Brawnche and bowh, and levys fayre, [Stowe folio 251a]
And ther bewte doth apayre,
Line 14236
Ryght so the wynd off veyn glorye—
Be yt off conquest or vyctórye,
Or off what vertu that yt be—
Yt bloweth yt doun (as men may se),
Line 14240
Worshep, honour, Rénoun, ffame—
Ther ys in bostyng so gret blame.
ffor bryddes that flen in the hayr,
And hyest makë ther repayr,
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Thys wynd kan maken hem avale,
Talyhtë lowe doun in the vale.
'Hastow, a-for-tyme, nat herd sayd,
How for an Exaumple ys layd,
Line 14248
That a Reuene, [[Ravene St.]] Or north or souht, [[Southe . . Mouthe St.]]
Bar a chese with-Inne hyr mouht [[Southe . . Mouthe St.]]
As she fley ouer a ffeld;
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The wychë, [[whiche St., wych C.]] whan the ffox beheld,
Thoghtë that he wolde yt haue;
Sayde, 'Ravene, god yow saue,
And kepë yow fro al meschaunce!
Prayynge yow, for my plesaunce,
Line 14256
That ye lyst, at my prayere,
Wyth your notys fressh and clere
Syngen som song off gentyllesse,
And your goodly throte vp dresse,
Line 14260
Wych ys so fful off melodye [folio 216b]
And off hevenly Armonye;
ffor trewly, as I kan dyscerne,
