Where lacketh mesure there is no plente; Where lacketh mesure seke is the courage; Where lacketh mesure there is iniquite; Where lacketh mesure there is great outrage; Where lacketh mesure is none advauntage; Where lacketh mesure there is great glotony; Where lacketh mesure is moost unhappy. For there is no hye nor great estate, Without mesure can kepe his dignite; It doth preserve him both early and late, Keping him from the pytte of poverte. Mesure is moderate to all bounte, Gretely nedeful for to take the charge Man for to rule, that he go not at large. Who loveth mesure can not do amys, So perfitely is the high operacion Among all thynges; so wonderfull it is, That it is full of all delectacion, And to vertue hath inclynacion. Mesure also doth well exemplefy, The hasty dome to swage and modefy. Without mesure wo worth the jugement; Without mesure wo worth the temperaunce; Without mesure wo worth the punishmeut; Without mesure wo worth the purveyaunce; Without mesure wo worth the sustenaunce; Without mesure wo worth the sadnes; And without mesure wo worth the gladnes. Mesure mesuring mesurably taketh; Mesure mesuring mesuratly dooth all; Mesure mesuring mesuratly maketh; Mesure mesuring mesuratly guyde shall; Mesure mesuring mesuratly doth call; Mesure mesuryng to right hye preemynence, For alway mesure is grounde of excellence. Mesure mesureth mesure in effecte; Mesure mesureth every quantyte; Mesure mesureth all waye the aspecte; Mesure mesureth all in certayne; Mesure mesureth in the stabilitie; Mesure mesuryth in every doutful case; And mesure is the lodesterre of all grace. Affycte of mesure is long continuaunce, Quantite without mesure is nought; Aspect of mesure devoydeth repentaunce; Certayne wold weye all thinges thought; Stabilitie upon a perfite grounde is wrought; Cace doubtfull may yet a whyle abyde; Grace may in space a remedy provyde. Countenaunce causeth the promocyon; Nought avayleth service without attendaunce, Repentaunce is after all abusion; Thought afore wolde have had perseveraunce; Wrought how should be bydede the mischaunce; Abyde nothing tyll thou do the dede; Provyde in mynde how thou mayst have mede. Promocion groweth after good governaunce; Attendaunce doth attayne good favour; Abusyon is causer of all variaunce; Perceyveraunce causeth great honour; Mischaunce alway is roote of dolour; Dede done can not be called agayne; Mede well rewarded both with joye and payne. Than I toke my leve, and went from Geometry Toward Astronomy as fast as I myght: For all my mynde was set right inwardly Upon my lady that was fayre and bryght. My herte with her was bothe day and night: She had it locked with a locke so sure, It was her owne, she had therof the cure. CAP. XXII. OF DAME ASTRONOMY.