9 The easy ringlets of her nut-brown hair What ne a man should see did sweetly hide, Which on her milk-white bodykin so fair Did show like brown streams fouling the white tide, Or veins of brown hue in a marble cuarr,[7] Which by the traveller is kenned from far. 10 Astounded mickle there I silent lay, Still scauncing wondrous at the walking sight; My senses forgard,[8] nor could run away, But was not forstraught[9] when she did alight Anigh to me, dressed up in naked view, Which might in some lascivious thoughts abrew. 11 But I did not once think of wanton thought; For well I minded what by vow I hete, And in my pocket had a crochee[10] brought; Which in the blossom would such sins anete; I looked with eyes as pure as angels do, And did the every thought of foul eschew. 12 With sweet semblate, and an angel's grace, She 'gan to lecture from her gentle breast; For Truth's own wordes is her minde's face, False oratories she did aye detest: Sweetness was in each word she did ywreene, Though she strove not to make that sweetness seen. 13 She said, 'My manner of appearing here My name and slighted myndruch may thee tell; I'm Truth, that did descend from heaven-were, Goulers and courtiers do not know me well; Thy inmost thoughts, thy labouring brain I saw, And from thy gentle dream will thee adawe.[11] 14 Full many champions, and men of lore, Painters and carvellers[12] have gained good name, But there's a Canynge to increase the store, A Canynge who shall buy up all their fame. Take thou my power, and see in child and man What true nobility in Canynge ran.' 15 As when a bordelier[13] on easy bed, Tired with the labours maynt[14] of sultry day, In sleepe's bosom lays his weary head, So, senses sunk to rest, my body lay; Eftsoons my sprite, from earthly bands untied, Emerged in flanched air with Truth aside. 16 Straight was I carried back to times of yore, Whilst Canynge swathed yet in fleshly bed, And saw all actions which had been before, And all the scroll of fate unravelled; And when the fate-marked babe had come to sight, I saw him eager gasping after light. 17 In all his shepen gambols and child's play, In every merry-making, fair, or wake, I knew a purple light of wisdom's ray; He eat down learning with a wastle cake. As wise as any of the aldermen, He'd wit enough to make a mayor at ten. 18 As the dulce[15] downy barbe began to gre, So was the well thighte texture of his lore Each day enheedynge mockler[16] for to be, Great in his counsel for the days he bore. All tongues, all carols did unto him sing, Wond'ring at one so wise, and yet so ying.[17]