Whome she loueth, of all plesyre[260] is ryche, Whyles she laugheth[261] and hath luste for to playe; Whome she hateth,[262] she casteth in the dyche, For whan she frouneth,[263] she thynketh to make a fray; She cheryssheth[264] him, and hym she casseth[265] awaye. Alas, quod I, how myghte I haue her sure? In fayth, quod she, by Bone Auenture. Thus, in a rowe, of martchauntes a grete route 120 Suwed to Fortune that she wold be theyre frynde: They thronge in fast, and flocked her aboute; And I with them prayed her to haue in mynde. She promysed to vs all she wolde be kynde: Of Bowge of Court she asketh what we wold haue; And we asked Fauoure, and Fauour she vs gaue. _Thus endeth the Prologue; and begynneth the Bowge of Courte breuely compyled._[266] DREDE. The sayle is vp, Fortune ruleth our helme, We wante no wynde to passe now ouer all; Fauoure we haue tougher[267] than ony[268] elme, That wyll abyde and neuer from vs fall: 130 But vnder hony ofte tyme lyeth bytter gall; For, as me thoughte, in our shyppe I dyde see Full subtyll persones, in nombre foure and thre. The fyrste was Fauell, full of flatery, Wyth fables false that well coude fayne a tale; The seconde was Suspecte, whiche that dayly Mysdempte eche man, with face deedly and pale; And Haruy Hafter,[269] that well coude picke a male; With other foure of theyr affynyte, Dysdayne, Ryotte, Dyssymuler, Subtylte. 140 Fortune theyr frende, with whome oft she dyde daunce; They coude not faile, thei thought, they were so sure; And oftentymes I wolde myselfe auaunce With them to make solace and pleasure; But my dysporte they coude not well endure; They sayde they hated for to dele with Drede. Than Fauell gan wyth fayre speche me to fede. FAUELL. Noo thynge erthely that I wonder so sore As of your connynge, that is so excellent; Deynte to haue with vs suche one in store, 150 So vertuously that hath his dayes spente; Fortune to you gyftes of grace hath lente: Loo, what it is a man to haue connynge! All erthly tresoure it is surmountynge. Ye be an apte man, as ony can be founde, To dwell with vs, and serue my ladyes grace; Ye be to her yea worth a thousande pounde; I herde her speke of you within shorte[270] space, Whan there were dyuerse that sore dyde you manace; And, though I say it, I was myselfe your frende, 160 For here be dyuerse to you that be vnkynde. But this one thynge ye maye be sure of me; For, by that Lorde that bought dere all mankynde, I can not flater, I muste be playne to thé; And ye nede ought, man, shewe to me your mynde, For ye haue me whome faythfull ye shall fynde; Whyles I haue ought, by God, thou shalt not lacke, And yf nede be, a bolde worde I dare cracke.