Ho suffreth more than God?' quath he

'Ho suffreth more than God?' quath he, 'No gome, as ich leyve. He myght amende in a mynt while Al that amys stondes. Ac he suffreth, in ensaumple That we sholde all suffren. Ys no vertue so feyr Of value ne of profit, As ys suffraunce, soveraynliche, So hit be for Godes love, And so wittnesseth the wyse, And wysseth the Frenshe, Bele vertue est suffraunce, Mal dire est petite venjaunce; Bien dire e bien suffrer Fait ly suffrable à bien vener. For-thi.' quath Reson, 'Ich rede the, Rewele thi tonge evere; And er thow lacke eny lyf, Loke ho is to preise. For is no creature under Cryst, That can hymselve make; And yf cristene creatures Couthen make hemselve, Eche lede wolde be lacles, Leyf thow non othere. Man was mad of suche matere, He may nat wel asterte, That som tymes hym tit To folwen hus kynde. Caton acordeth herwith: Nemo sine crimine vivit.

7347. Genes. i, 31.

7363. Cato, Distich. i, 5.

Si vitam inspicias hominum, si denique mores, Quum culpent alios, nemo sine crimine vivit.