An old proverb there said is, in English, _That bird or fowl, soothly, is dishonest_ _What that he be, and holdin full churlish_ _That useth to defoulin his own nest_. Men to say well of women, it is the best: And naught to despisin them, ne deprave; If that they will their honour keep or save. The Ladies ever complain them on Clerks That they have made bookis of their defame; In which they despise women and their works, And speakin of them great reproof and shame: And causèless give them a wicked name. Thus they despisèd be, on every side, Dislanderèd and blown upon full wide. Those sorry books make mention How women betrayed in especial ADAM, DAVID, SAMPSON, and SOLOMON, And many one more; who may rehearse them all, The treasons that they havin done, and shall? The world their malice may not comprehend (As Clerkis feign), for it ne hath none end. OVID, in his book callèd _Remedy_ _Of Love_, great reproof of woman ywriteth, Wherein, I know that he did great folly; And every wight who, in such case, him delighteth. A Clerkis custom is, when he enditeth Of women (be it prose, or rhyme, or verse) Say, "They be wicked!" all know he the reverse. And the book Scholars learned in their childhead For they of women beware should in age, And to lovin them, ever be in dread. Sith to deceive, is all their courage, They say, of peril, men should cast the advantage, Namely, of such as men havin bewrapped: For many a man, by woman hath mishapped. No charge is what so these Clerkis ysain Of all their writing, I ne do ne cure All their labour and travail is in vain For between me and my Lady Nature Shall not be suffred, while the world may 'dure. Thus these Clerkis, by their cruel tyranny, On silly women, kithin their mastery. Whilom, for many of them were in my chain Ytied; and now, for unwieldy age And unlust, they may not to love attain: And sain, now, that "Love is but very dotage!" Thus, for they themselfin lackin courage, They folk excitin by their wicked saws For to rebell against Me, and my laws! But, maugre them that blamin women most, Such is the force of mine impression That, suddenly, I can fell all their boast, And all their wrong imagination. It shall not be in their election, The foulest slut in all the town to refuse; If that me lust, for all that they can muse: