[Sidenote: [THE LOVER’S SHRIFT.]] This worthi Prest, this holy man To me spekende thus began, And seide: ‘Benedicite, Mi Sone, of the felicite Of love and ek of all the wo Thou schalt thee schrive of bothe tuo.[242] [Sidenote: Hic dicit qualiter Genio pro Confessore sedenti prouolutus Amans ad confitendum se flexis genibus incuruatur, supplicans tamen, vt ad sui sensus informacionem confessor ille in dicendis opponere sibi benignius dignaretur.] What thou er this for loves sake Hast felt, let nothing be forsake, 210 [Sidenote: =P. i. 49=] Tell pleinliche as it is befalle.’ And with that word I gan doun falle On knees, and with devocioun[243] And with full gret contricioun I seide thanne: ‘Dominus, Min holi fader Genius, So as thou hast experience Of love, for whos reverence Thou schalt me schriven at this time, I prai the let me noght mistime 220 Mi schrifte, for I am destourbed In al myn herte, and so contourbed, That I ne may my wittes gete, So schal I moche thing foryete:[244] Bot if thou wolt my schrifte oppose Fro point to point, thanne I suppose, Ther schal nothing be left behinde.[245] Bot now my wittes ben so blinde, That I ne can miselven teche.’ Tho he began anon to preche, 230 And with his wordes debonaire He seide tome softe and faire:[246] ‘Thi schrifte to oppose and hiere, [Sidenote: Sermo Genii sacerdotis[247] super confessione ad Amantem.] My Sone, I am assigned hiere Be Venus the godesse above, Whos Prest I am touchende of love. Bot natheles for certein skile I mot algate and nedes wile Noght only make my spekynges Of love, bot of othre thinges, 240 [Sidenote: =P. i. 50=] That touchen to the cause of vice. For that belongeth to thoffice Of Prest, whos ordre that I bere, So that I wol nothing forbere, That I the vices on and on Ne schal thee schewen everychon; Wherof thou myht take evidence To reule with thi conscience. Bot of conclusion final Conclude I wol in special 250 For love, whos servant I am, And why the cause is that I cam. So thenke I to don bothe tuo, Ferst that myn ordre longeth to, The vices forto telle arewe, Bot next above alle othre schewe Of love I wol the propretes, How that thei stonde be degrees After the disposicioun Of Venus, whos condicioun 260 I moste folwe, as I am holde. For I with love am al withholde, So that the lasse I am to wyte, Thogh I ne conne bot a lyte[248] Of othre thinges that ben wise: I am noght tawht in such a wise;[249] For it is noght my comun us