"Every woman," he saith, "is light to get, Can none say, 'Nay!' if she be well ysought; Whoso may leisure have with her to treat Of his purpose, ne shall be failin ought But he on madness be so deep ybrought That he shende all with open homeliness That loven women. They doting! as I guess." To slaunder women thus, what may profit To gentleness? namely, that them arm should In defence of women, and them delight As that the Order of Gentleness would? If that a man list gentle to be held He must all eschew that thereto is contrary. A slanderous tongue is his great enemy! A foul vice it is, of tongue to be light. For _whoso mochil clappeth, gabbeth oft_. The Tongue of Man so swift is, and so wight That when it is yraisèd up on loft, Reason is shewed so slowly and soft, That it him never overtakin may. Lord! so these men been trusty in assay! Albeit that men find one woman nice, Inconstant, recheless, and variable, Deignous and proud, full fillèd of malice, Without faith or love, and deceivable, Sly, quaint, false, in all untrust culpable, Wicked or fierce, or full of cruelty: Yet followeth not that such, all women be! When the high GOD, angellis formèd had: Amongis them all formed, were there none That foundin were malicious and bad? Yet all men wotin, there were many one That for their pride fell from heaven anon. Should we, forthy, give all angels proud name? Nay, he that that sustaineth, is to blame! Of twelve Apostles, one a traitor was; The remenant yet good werin and true. So if it happen men findin, percase, A woman false; such, good is to eschew: And deem not all that they therefore be untrue. I see well, that menis own falseness Them causeth, woman for to trust the less. O, every man ought have a heart tender To a woman, and deem her honourable; Whether her shape be thick, or else slender, Or she be good or bad! It is no fable. Every wight wot, that wit hath reasonable, That of a woman, he descendèd is: Then is it shame of her to speak amiss! A wicked tree, good fruit may none forth bring; For such the fruit, is aye as is the tree. Take heed of whom thou take thy beginning! Let thy mother be mirror unto thee! Honour her, if thou wilt honoured be! Despiseth her then not, in no manere! Lest that thereby thy wickedness appear.