Above alle othre under the Sky, Who that the vertus wolde peise,[503] Virginite is forto preise, Which, as thapocalips recordeth, To Crist in hevene best acordeth.[504] 6390 So mai it schewe wel therfore, As I have told it hier tofore, In hevene and ek in Erthe also It is accept to bothe tuo*. And if I schal more over this Declare what this vertu is, I finde write upon this thing [Sidenote: [CHASTITY OF VALENTINIAN.]] Of Valentinian the king And Emperour be thilke daies, [Sidenote: Hic loquitur qualiter Valentinianus Imperator, cum ipse octogenarius plures prouincias Romano Imperio belliger subiugasset, dixit se super omnia magis gaudere de eo, quod contra sue carnis concupiscenciam victoriam optinuisset; nam et ipse virgo omnibus diebus vite sue castissimus permansit.] A worthi knyht at alle assaies, 6400 Hou he withoute Mariage Was of an hundred wynter Age, And hadde ben a worthi kniht Bothe of his lawe and of his myht. * * * * * *Out of his flessh a man to live[505] [Sidenote: In carne preter carnem viuere pocius vita angelica quam humana est.[506]] Gregoire hath this ensample yive, And seith it schal rather be told Lich to an Angel manyfold,[507] [Sidenote: =P. ii. 342=] Than to the lif of mannes kinde. Ther is no reson forto finde, 6400* Bot only thurgh the grace above, In flessh withoute flesshly love A man to live chaste hiere: And natheles a man mai hiere Of suche that have ben er this, And yit ther ben; bot for it is A vertu which is sielde wonne, Now I this matiere have begonne, I thenke tellen overmore, Which is, mi Sone, for thi lore, 6410* If that the list to taken hiede. x.[508]_Vt Rosa de spinis spineto preualet orta,_ _Et lilii flores cespite plura valent,_ _Sic sibi virginitas carnis sponsalia vincit,_ _Eternos fetus que sine labe parit._