Thomas Humphry Ward, ed. The English Poets. 1880–1918.rnVol. I. Early Poetry: Chaucer to Donne
Geoffrey Chaucer (c. 13401400)Good Counseil of Chaucer
F
Sufficë thee thy good, though hit be smal;
For hord hath hate, and clymbyng tikelnesse,
Pres hath envye, and wele blent over al.
Savour no more then thee behovë shal;
Do wel thy-self that other folk canst rede,
And trouthe thee shal delyver, hit ys no drede.
In trust of hir that turneth as a bal,
Gret restë stant in lytil besynesse;
Bewar also to spurne ayein a nal,
Stryve not as doth a crokkë with a wal;
Dauntë thy-selfe that dauntest otheres dede,
And trouthe thee shal delyver, hit is no drede.
The wrasteling of this world asketh a fal;
Heer is no hoom, heer is but wyldernesse.
Forth pilgrime, forth! forth best, out of thy stal!
Loke up on hye, and thonkë God of al;
Weyvë thy lust, and let thy gost thee lede,
And trouthe shal thee delyver, hit is no drede.
Therfor, thou vache, leve thyn old wrecchednesse;
Unto the worldë leve now to be thral;
Crye him mercy, that of his heigh goodnesse
Made thee of naught; and, in especial,
Draw unto him, and pray in general
For thee, and eek for other, hevenly mede;
And trouthe schal thee delivere, it is no drede.