Of hem that writen ous tofore The bokes duelle, and we therfore Ben tawht of that was write tho: Forthi good is that we also In oure tyme among ous hiere[24] Do wryte of newe som matiere,[25] Essampled of these olde wyse[26] So that it myhte in such a wyse,[27] [Sidenote: [DESIGN OF THE BOOK.]] Whan we ben dede and elleswhere, Beleve to the worldes eere 10 In tyme comende after this. Bot for men sein, and soth it is, That who that al of wisdom writ It dulleth ofte a mannes wit [Sidenote: =P. i. 2=] To him that schal it aldai rede,[28] For thilke cause, if that ye rede, I wolde go the middel weie And wryte a bok betwen the tweie, Somwhat of lust, somewhat of lore, That of the lasse or of the more 20 Som man mai lyke of that I wryte: And for that fewe men endite [Sidenote: Hic in principio declarat qualiter in anno Regis Ricardi secundi sexto decimo Iohannes Gower presentem libellum composuit et finaliter compleuit, quem strenuissimo domino suo domino Henrico de Lancastria tunc Derbeie Comiti cum omni reuerencia specialiter destinauit.] In oure englissh, I thenke make[29] *A bok for Engelondes sake,[30] [Sidenote: =P. i. 3=] The yer sextenthe of kyng Richard. What schal befalle hierafterward God wot, for now upon this tyde Men se the world on every syde[31] In sondry wyse so diversed,[32] That it welnyh stant al reversed, 30 As forto speke of tyme ago. The cause whi it changeth so It needeth nought to specifie,[33] The thing so open is at ÿe [Sidenote: =P. i. 4=] That every man it mai beholde: And natheles be daies olde, Whan that the bokes weren levere, Wrytinge was beloved evere[34] Of hem that weren vertuous; For hier in erthe amonges ous, 40 If noman write hou that it stode,[35] The pris of hem that weren goode Scholde, as who seith, a gret partie Be lost: so for to magnifie The worthi princes that tho were, The bokes schewen hiere and there,[36] Wherof the world ensampled is;[37] And tho that deden thanne amis [Sidenote: =P. i. 5=] Thurgh tirannie and crualte,[38] Right as thei stoden in degre, 50 So was the wrytinge of here werk.[39] Thus I, which am a burel clerk,[40] Purpose forto wryte a bok After the world that whilom tok Long tyme in olde daies passed: Bot for men sein it is now lassed, In worse plit than it was tho, I thenke forto touche also The world which neweth every dai, So as I can, so as I mai. 60