Cap. XXI. Howe Graunde Amoure Went to Geometry, and What Geometry Is

So forth I went, upon a craggy roche, Upon the toure moost wonderfully wrought Of Geometry; and as I did approche The altitude all in my mynd I sought. Sixe hundreth fote, as by my nomber thought; Quadrant it was, and did here and sette At every storme whan the wind was great.

Thus at the last I came into an hall, Hanged with arres riche and precious, And every window glased with cristall, Lyke a place of plesure much solacious. With knottes sixeangled, gay and glorious, The rofe did hange, right high and pleasauntly, By Geometry made right well and craftely.

In this marveylous hall, replete with richesse, At the hye ende she sat full worthely. I came anone unto her great noblenesse, And kneled adowne before her mekely. Madame, I sayd, ye werke full ryally; I beseche you, with all my diligence, To instructe me in your wonderfull science.

My science, she sayd, it is moost profitable Unto Astronomy, for I do it mesure In every thing as it is probable; For I my selfe can ryght well discure Of every sterre, which is sene in ure, The mervaylous gretnes by my mesuring; For God made all at the begynnyng.

By good mesuryng both the heyght and depnes Of every thing, as I understand, The length and brede with al the greatnes, Of the firmament so compassing the land; And who my cunning list to take in hand, In his emyspery of hye or low degre Nothing there is but it may measure be.

Though that it be from us hye and farre, If ony thing fall we may it truely se, As the sonne or moone or any other sterre, We may therof know well the quantite. Who of this science dooth know the certaynte, All maysteries might measure perfytely; For geometry doth shew it openly.

Where that is mesure there is no lacking; Where that is mesure hole is the body; Where that is mesure good is the living; Where that is mesure wisdome is truely; Where that is mesure werke is directly; Where that is mesure, natures working Nature increaseth by right good knowledging.

Where lacketh mesure there is no plente; Where lacketh mesure seke is the courage; Where lacketh mesure there is iniquite; Where lacketh mesure there is great outrage; Where lacketh mesure is none advauntage; Where lacketh mesure there is great glotony; Where lacketh mesure is moost unhappy.

For there is no hye nor great estate, Without mesure can kepe his dignite; It doth preserve him both early and late, Keping him from the pytte of poverte. Mesure is moderate to all bounte, Gretely nedeful for to take the charge Man for to rule, that he go not at large.

Who loveth mesure can not do amys, So perfitely is the high operacion Among all thynges; so wonderfull it is, That it is full of all delectacion, And to vertue hath inclynacion. Mesure also doth well exemplefy, The hasty dome to swage and modefy.

Without mesure wo worth the jugement; Without mesure wo worth the temperaunce; Without mesure wo worth the punishmeut; Without mesure wo worth the purveyaunce; Without mesure wo worth the sustenaunce; Without mesure wo worth the sadnes; And without mesure wo worth the gladnes.

Mesure mesuring mesurably taketh; Mesure mesuring mesuratly dooth all; Mesure mesuring mesuratly maketh; Mesure mesuring mesuratly guyde shall; Mesure mesuring mesuratly doth call; Mesure mesuryng to right hye preemynence, For alway mesure is grounde of excellence.

Mesure mesureth mesure in effecte; Mesure mesureth every quantyte; Mesure mesureth all waye the aspecte; Mesure mesureth all in certayne; Mesure mesureth in the stabilitie; Mesure mesuryth in every doutful case; And mesure is the lodesterre of all grace.

Affycte of mesure is long continuaunce, Quantite without mesure is nought; Aspect of mesure devoydeth repentaunce; Certayne wold weye all thinges thought; Stabilitie upon a perfite grounde is wrought; Cace doubtfull may yet a whyle abyde; Grace may in space a remedy provyde.

Countenaunce causeth the promocyon; Nought avayleth service without attendaunce, Repentaunce is after all abusion; Thought afore wolde have had perseveraunce; Wrought how should be bydede the mischaunce; Abyde nothing tyll thou do the dede; Provyde in mynde how thou mayst have mede.

Promocion groweth after good governaunce; Attendaunce doth attayne good favour; Abusyon is causer of all variaunce; Perceyveraunce causeth great honour; Mischaunce alway is roote of dolour; Dede done can not be called agayne; Mede well rewarded both with joye and payne.

Than I toke my leve, and went from Geometry Toward Astronomy as fast as I myght: For all my mynde was set right inwardly Upon my lady that was fayre and bryght. My herte with her was bothe day and night: She had it locked with a locke so sure, It was her owne, she had therof the cure.