Maxioms by Geoffrey Chaucer
The first vertue, sone, if thou wilt lerne,
Is to restreyne and kepen wel thy tonge.
The first vertue, sone, if thou wilt lerne,
Is to restreyne and kepen wel thy tonge.
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche.
Thanne is it wysdom, as thynketh me,
To maken vertu of necessite,
And take it weel, that read more
Thanne is it wysdom, as thynketh me,
To maken vertu of necessite,
And take it weel, that we may not eschu,
And namely that that to us alle is due.
For thre may kepe a counsel, if twain be awaie.
For thre may kepe a counsel, if twain be awaie.
The jelous swan, agens hire deth that syngith.
The jelous swan, agens hire deth that syngith.
