By the auctorite that seith he shulde socoure his trwe freendis in armes vnto hell we may vnderstonde the blyssyd sowle of Jhesu Cryste, the which drewe owte the good sowles of holy patriarkes and profhetes þat were in lymbo; and be this example the goode sperite [Sidenote: f. 28.] scholde draw to hym all vertues and beleve the Article that Seynt Phelip seith, [“Descendit ad inferna”]. XXVIII. Cadimus[272] love and yife to hym preisyng, And that auctorised may his techyng Be in the; for the welle in serteyne He whan[273] fro the serpent with grete peyne. Cadimus was a full noble man and ffounded Thebes, the which was a cite of grete name. He sette þerin a vniuersyte[274] and hym selph was gretly lettyrd and of grete kunnyng and wysdom. The whiche man, after that the fabyl seith, he dowted þe serpent at the welle. This is to vnderstond konnyng and wisdom, the which rysyth all weye, that is for the welle; the serpent is notyd for the peyne and the trauell that a stodier most doute or that he gete kunnyng. And the fable seithe that he become a serpent hym selfe, the which is to vndirstond that he become mayster and correctore of othir. So Othea seith that a good knygh shulde love and worchip clerkes that be letteryd, þe which be growndyd in konnyng. To this purpose Aristotle seide to Alysawndre, “Worchip wisdom and fortyfie it wyth good maystres.” Be Cadimus that douted the serpent at þe well, þe whiche þe good knygh shuld love, we may vnderstond the blyssed manhode of Jhesu Cryste, the which douted the serpent and wanne the welle, þat is to sey, the lyfe of this worlde, þe which he passed with grete peyne and with grete trauelle, off whom he hade victorie be strengh, when he rose the thredde day, as Seynt Thomas seith, [“Tertia die resurrexit a mortuis”]. XXIX. Delyte gretly in the kunnyng Of Yo more than good or othir thyng[275]; For by that thou mayst lerne full gretly And of good theryng take largely.[276]