And he with that an Arwe hath hent 6330 And gan to teise it in his bowe, As he that can non other knowe, Bot that it was a beste wylde. Bot Jupiter, which wolde schylde The Moder and the Sone also, Ordeineth for hem bothe so,[490] That thei for evere were save. [Sidenote: Confessor.] Bot thus, mi Sone, thou myht have Ensample, hou that it is to fle To robbe the virginite 6340 Of a yong innocent aweie:[491] And overthis be other weie, In olde bokes as I rede, Such Robberie is forto drede, [Sidenote: =P. ii. 340=] And nameliche of thilke good Which every womman that is good Desireth forto kepe and holde, As whilom was be daies olde. For if thou se mi tale wel Of that was tho, thou miht somdiel 6350 Of old ensample taken hiede,[492] Hou that the flour of maidenhiede Was thilke time holde in pris. And so it was, and so it is, And so it schal for evere stonde: And for thou schalt it understonde, Nou herkne a tale next suiende, Hou maidenhod is to commende. [Sidenote: [VIRGINITY.]] x. _Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,_[493] _Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,_ _Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,_ _Eternos fetus que sine labe parit._ Of Rome among the gestes olde I finde hou that Valerie tolde 6360 [Sidenote: Hic loquitur de virginitatis commendacione, vbi dicit quod nuper Imperatores ob tanti status dignitatem virginibus cedebant[496] in via.] That what man tho was Emperour[494] Of Rome, he scholde don honour To the virgine, and in the weie,[495] Wher he hire mette, he scholde obeie In worschipe of virginite, Which tho was of gret dignite.[497] Noght onliche of the wommen tho,[498] Bot of the chaste men also It was commended overal: And forto speke in special 6370 [Sidenote: =P. ii. 341=] Touchende of men, ensample I finde, [Sidenote: Hic loquitur, qualiter Phyrinus, iuuenum Rome pulcherrimus, ut illesam suam conseruaret virginitatem, ambos oculos eruens vultus sui decorem abhominabilem constituit.] Phyryns, which was of mannes kinde[499] Above alle othre the faireste Of Rome and ek the comelieste, That wel was hire which him mihte Beholde and have of him a sihte. Thus was he tempted ofte sore; Bot for he wolde be nomore[500] Among the wommen so coveited, The beaute of his face streited 6380 He hath, and threste out bothe hise yhen,[501] That alle wommen whiche him syhen[502] Thanne afterward, of him ne roghte: And thus his maidehiede he boghte. So mai I prove wel forthi,