[Linenotes: 3022 _vnbynde_--vnbyndyn _bonde_--bondes 3023 [_orpheus_]--from C. _somtyme_--whilom 3024 _sorowe_--sorwe 3028 _dredles_--dredeles _to herkene_--forto herknen 3029 _had[de]_--hadde 3030 _þat_ (2)--omitted 3031 _most[e]_--moste 3032 _hadde_--hadden 3033 _assuage_--asswagen _lorde_--lord 3034 _pleyned[e]_--pleynede _godes_--heuene goodes 3035 _wente_--MS. wenten, C. wente 3036 _tempred[e] hys_--temprede hise 3037 _of hys_--C. omits _spak_--MS. spakke, C. spak _song_--MS. songe, C. soonge 3038 _alle_--al 3039 _oute_--owt _goddesse_--goddes 3040 _song_--MS. songe, C. soonge _mychel_--mochel 3041 _myche_--moche _doubled[e]_--dowblede 3042 _myȝt[e]_--myhte _ȝeuen_--yeue _teche_--thechen _in----herte_--omitted 3043 _commoeuede_--MS. comaunded, C. co{m}moeuede 3044 _souȝte_--by-sowhte 3045 _ȝelden_--yilden 3046 _his_--hise 3047 _cauȝt_--MS. cauȝte, C. cawht _new[e] songe_--newe song 3049 _anoye----sorweful_--anoy woxen soruful 3050 _þan_--tho ne 3051 _whele_--wheel 3053 _þrust_--thurst _hyȝt_--hihte 3054 _fulfilled_--fulfyld 3055 _songe_--song] [Headnote: FIX NOT THE THOUGHTS ON EARTHLY THINGS.] [Sidenote: At length Pluto himself relented, crying out, ‘We are overcome! Let us give him back his wife, he hath well won her by his song.] ¶ Atte þe laste þe lorde {and} Iuge of soules was moeued 3056 to misericordes {and} cried[e] we ben ouer comen q{uo}d he. yif[e] we to orpheus his wijf to bere hym co{m}paignye he haþ welle I-bouȝt hir by his faire songe {and} his ditee. [[pg 108]] [Sidenote: But we will lay this injunction upon him. Till he escape the infernal bounds, he shall not cast a backward look.’] but we wil putte{n} a lawe in þis. {and} couenaunt 3060 in þe ȝifte. þ{a}t is to seyne. þat til he be out of helle yif he loke byhynden hym [þ{a}t] hys wijf shal come{n} aȝeine to vs [Sidenote: But, who shall give a lover any law? Love is a greater law than may be given to any earthly man.] ¶ but what is he þat may ȝeue a lawe to loueres. loue is a gretter lawe {and} a strengere to 3064 hym self þan any lawe þ{a}t men may ȝeuen. [Sidenote: Alas! having left the realms of night, Orpheus cast a look behind and lost his too-much-loved Euridice.] ¶ Allas whan Orpheus {and} his wijf were al most at þe termes of þe nyȝt. þat is to seyne at þe last[e] boundes of helle. Orpheus loked[e] abakwarde on Erudice his wijf {and} 3068 lost[e] hir {and} was deed. [Sidenote: This fable belongs to all you, whose minds would view the Sovereign Good.]