Where lust is[1731] lawe it booteth not to pleade, No priuelege nor[1732] libertyes avayle: But with the learnde, whome lawe and wisdome leade, Although through rashnes poets hap to rayle, A plea of dotage may all quarels quayle: Theyr olde licence[1733] theyr writings to expounde, Doth quit them cleare from faults by Momus founde. 31. This freedom old ought[1734] not to be debard From any wight that speaketh ought, or writeth: The author’s meaning should of right be heard, He knoweth best to what end he enditeth: Wordes somtime beare more then the heart behiteth: Admit therefore the author’s exposition, If playne, for trueth: if forc’d, for his submission. 32. In case of slaunder, [the] lawes[1735] requyre no more, Saue to amend that seemed not well sayde:[1736] Or to vnsay the slaunder’s sayde afore, And aske forgiuenes for the hasty brayde: To heretikes no greater payne is layde, Then to recant theyr errours, or retract: And worse then these can be no writer’s acte. 33. “Yes,” quoth the Cat, “thy rayling words be treason, And treason is far worse then heresy:” Then must it follow by this awkewarde[1737] reason, That kings be more then God in maiesty, And soules be lesse then bodyes in degree: For heretikes both soules and God offend, Traytors but seeke to bring man’s life to end. 34. I speake not this t’abace[1738] the haynous fault, Of trayterous actes abhorde by God[1739] and man, But to make playne theyr iudgement to be naught, That heresy for lesser sin doe ban: I curse them both as deepe as any can, And alway did: yet through my foolish ryme, They stayned mee with that most hatefull cryme.[1740] 35. I neuer meant the king or counsayl harme, Unles to wish them safty were offence: Agaynst theyr powre I neuer lifted arme, Nor pen, nor tongue, for any ill pretence: The ryme I made, though rude, was sound in sence, For they therein, whom I so fondly named, So ruled all that they were foule defamed. 36. This was no treason, but the very troth, They ruled all, none could deny the same: What was the cause then why they were so wroth? What, is it treason in a ryming frame To clip, to stretch, to adde, or chaunge a name? And this reserued, there is no ryme nor reason, That any craft can clout to seeme a treason. 37.