_Man._ O Lord of Lords, my Lord God immortal! To Thee be honour and joy ever to endure; Whose heavenly empire shall never be final, But world without end remain stable and sure; Whom heaven and hell and earthly creature, With one assent, and all with one accord, Honoureth, praiseth, and knowledgeth for their Lord. To Thee mine head I humbly incline, Thanking Thy grace that first hast ordained me To be as a silly creature of Thine; And, after that, of Thy great bounty Thou hast me set in sovereign degree, And given me the profits of every earthly thing, As well of fruits as of beasts living; And that, that is also most precious, Thou hast me inspired with heavenly wisdom, Whereby I may do works marvellous. In every place, wheresoever I come, Of each perfection Thy grace hath lent me some; So that I know that creature nowhere Of whose virtue I am not partner. I have, as hath each other element Among other in this world, a common being; With herbs and trees continual nourishment That is sufficient to natural living; With sensual beasts I have a manner of knowing Whereby I should in good things delight, And flee the contrary of mine appetite. And, over all this, Thou hast given me virtue Surmounting all other in high perfection: That is, understanding, whereby I may aview And well discern what is to be done; Yet, for all that, have I free election [To] do what I will, be it evil or well; And am put in the hand of mine own counsel. And, in this point, I am half angelic; Unto Thy heavenly spirits almost egal; Albeit in some part I be to them unlike. For, they be ordained to endure perpetual; And I, wretched body! shall have my funeral When it pleaseth Thy grace so to provide: Man is not ordained alway here to abide. Wherefore, unto Thy sovereign and high estate, Most heavenly prince! I make mine orison Sith it hath pleased Thy noble grace algate That I, unworthy of so great renown, In this world shall have possession: Thou give me grace myself to enure As may me profit, and be to Thy pleasure. _Nature._ God hath heard thy prayer, Mankind, no doubt, In all thy requests and right full petition. Now, forth thy journey! and look well about That thou be not deceived by false prodition. Let Reason thee govern in every condition; For, if thou do not to his rule incline, It will be to thy great mischief and ruin. I wot well Sensuality is to thee natural, And granted to thee in thy first creation. But, notwithstanding, it ought to be over all Subdued to Reason, and under his tuition. Thou hast now liberty, and needest no main-mission; And, if thou aband thee to passions sensual, Farewell thy liberty! thou shalt wax thrall.