Which is the beste unto my chois. Thus grante I yow myn hole vois, Ches for ous bothen, I you preie; And what as evere that ye seie, 1830 Riht as ye wole so wol I.’ ‘Mi lord,’ sche seide, ‘grant merci, For of this word that ye now sein, That ye have mad me soverein, Mi destine is overpassed, That nevere hierafter schal be lassed [Sidenote: =P. i. 104=] Mi beaute, which that I now have, Til I be take into my grave; Bot nyht and day as I am now[398] I schal alwey be such to yow. 1840 The kinges dowhter of Cizile I am, and fell bot siththe awhile, As I was with my fader late, That my Stepmoder for an hate, Which toward me sche hath begonne, Forschop me, til I hadde wonne The love and sovereinete Of what knyht that in his degre Alle othre passeth of good name: And, as men sein, ye ben the same, 1850 The dede proeveth it is so; Thus am I youres evermo.’ Tho was plesance and joye ynowh, Echon with other pleide and lowh; Thei live longe and wel thei ferde, And clerkes that this chance herde Thei writen it in evidence, To teche how that obedience Mai wel fortune a man to love And sette him in his lust above, 1860 As it befell unto this knyht. [Sidenote: Confessor.] Forthi, my Sone, if thou do ryht, Thou schalt unto thi love obeie, And folwe hir will be alle weie. [Sidenote: Amans.] Min holy fader, so I wile: For ye have told me such a skile [Sidenote: =P. i. 105=] Of this ensample now tofore, That I schal evermo therfore Hierafterward myn observance To love and to his obeissance 1870 The betre kepe: and over this Of pride if ther oght elles is, Wherof that I me schryve schal, What thing it is in special, Mi fader, axeth, I you preie. [Sidenote: Confessor.] Now lest, my Sone, and I schal seie: For yit ther is Surquiderie, Which stant with Pride of compaignie; Wherof that thou schalt hiere anon, To knowe if thou have gult or non 1880 Upon the forme as thou schalt hiere:[399] Now understond wel the matiere. [Sidenote: [iii. SURQUIDRY OR PRESUMPTION.]] viii. _Omnia scire putat, set se Presumpcio nescit,_ _Nec sibi consimilem quem putat esse parem._ _Qui magis astutus reputat se vincere bellum,_ _In laqueos Veneris forcius ipse cadit._ _Sepe Cupido virum sibi qui presumit amantem_ _Fallit, et in vacuas spes redit ipsa vias._