Bothe ther names and ther offis.
¶ Obedyence:
THe lady that the boondys bar,
To me seyde (as I was war),
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'I am,' quod sche, '(schortely to expresse),
Of this hous the [[the om. St.]] cheeff pryoresse,
Nexte Gracë Dieu (in substaunce,) [Tib folio 97b]
I haue here [[here St., off hir Tib.]] the gouernaunce,
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(Bothe byfforne and eke byhynde.)
And with these boondës eke I bynde,
(Wher-so that they be soure or swete,)
Off ffolkës bothë hand and ffete,
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That they, in no wysë, doore [.i. audent St., om. Tib.]
Passen by noon opene doore: [.i. per hostium St., om. Tib.]
I holde hem in, lyke prisoners,
And off look and eke off cherys;
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And my namë (in sentence)
Callyd is Obedyence.
'My boondes and my lygamentys
Ben dyuerse comaundëmentys,
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To holden in subieccyoun
ffolkës off relygyoun.
¶ And off my ffylë to termyne,
It is I-called Dyscyplyne:
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And that I (bothe northe and south)
Am wonte to bere it in my mouth,
Betokeneth reprehensyoun
Off ffolke, ffor her transgressyoun,
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There-with I scoure in euery syde,
That ther may no ruste abyde, [[Illumination.]]
Nowther ffylthe, ffor noon offence. [Tib folio 98a]
'My targë callyd ys 'Prudence:'
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Euery thyng (I the ensure)
tó gouérne it by mesure.' [[Tib. & St.]]
¶ And, as I haddë good reward, [[Tib. & St.]]
I sawgh oon in-to the ffreyterward
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Goon a mesurable paas, [Stowe folio 357a]
Wonder sobre off look and ffaas,
And no thyng dissolut off cher:
Armyd sche was with a gorger.
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