"Impe on an ellere, And if thyn appul be swete, Muchel merveille me thynketh; And moore of a sherewe That bryngeth forth any barn, But if he be the same, And have a savour after the sire; Selde sestow oother. _Nunquam colligitur de spinis uva, nec de tribulis ficus._ 5480 "And thus thorugh cursed Caym Cam care upon erthe; {169} And al for thei wroghte wedlokes Ayein Goddes wille. For-thi have thei maugré of hir mariages That marie so hir children. For some, as I se now, Sooth for to telle, For coveitise of catel Un-kyndely ben wedded; 5490 As careful concepcion Cometh of swiche mariages, As bi-fel of the folk That I bifore of tolde, Therfore goode sholde wedde goode, Though thei no good hadde; 'I am _via et veritas_,' seith Crist, 'I may avaunce yow alle.' "It is an uncomly couple, By Crist! as me thynketh, 5500 To yeven a yong wenche To an old feble, Or wedden any wodewe For welthe of hir goodes, That nevere shal barn bere But if it be in hir armes. Many a peire, sithen the pestilence, Han plight hem togideres, The fruyt that brynge forth Arn foule wordes, 5510 In jelousie joye-lees, And janglynge on bedde, Have thei no children but cheeste, And clappyng hem bitwene. And though thei do hem to Dunmowe, But if the devel helpe, {170} To folwen after the flicche, Fecche thei it nevere; And but thi bothe be for-swore, That bacon thei tyne. 5520 "For-thei I counseille alle cristene Coveite noght be wedded For coveitise of catel, Ne of kyn-rede riche; Ac maidenes and maydenes Macche yow togideres, Wodewes and wideweres Wercheth the same; For no londes, but for love, Loke ye be wedded, 5530 And thanne gete ye the grace of God, And good y-nough to lyve with. "And every maner seculer That may noght continue, Wisely goo wedde, And ware hym fro synne; For lecherie in likynge Is lyme-yerd of helle. Whiles thow art yong, And thi wepene kene, 5540 Wreke thee with wyvyng, If thow wolt ben excused. _Dum sis vir fortis, Ne des tua robora scortis; Scribitur in portis, Meretrix est janua mortis._