Explicit Liber Primus.
The MSS. are:—Cl. (= Campsall MS.), and Cp. (= Corp. Chr. Camb. 61), taken as the basis of the text; H. (= Harl. 2280); H2. (= Harl. 3943); Cm. (= Cambridge MS. Gg. 4. 27); Ed. (= printed edition, 1532).
1-70. Lost in Cm. and H2. (where it is supplied in late hand). 5. Cl. Cp. froye; H. fro ye. 6. Cl. helpe; Cp. H. help. 7. Cp. thise; Cl. H. this. 15. Cl. seruauntz. 18. Cl. om. I; H. I am; Cp. Ed. am I. 20. Cl. H. Vn-to; Cp. Ed. To. 21. Cl. be his; Cp. be this; H. by this. 23. Cl. ony; Cp. Hl. any (often). 24. Cp. Hl. Remembreth; Cl. Remembre. 26. Cl. other fok; Cp. othere folk. 27. Cl. dorst; Cp. H. dorste. 31. Cp. H. Ed. hem; Cl. him. 36, 42. Cl. Cp. desespeyred; H. despeyred; Ed. dispeyred. 41. Cp. To; Cl. H. So. 44. Cl. H. goode; Cp. Ed. good. 45. Cp. ladies so; Cl. loues for; H. loueres for. 48. Cl. seruauntz. 58. Cl. went; Cp. H. wente. 62. Cl. raueshyng; Cp. rauysshynge. 69. Cl. high (!); Cp. highte; H. hyghte. 70. Cl. Delphebus; Cp. H. Ed. Delphicus. 71. Cl. whanne; Cp. whan. 76. Cl. wyst; H. west; Cm. woste; Cp. wiste. 79. Cl. forknowyng; Cp. H. Cm. for-knowynge. 80. Cl. pryely (!); Cp. H. pryuely; Cm. preuili. 82. Cl. H. bothen; Cp. Cm. bothe. 87. Cl. Cp. H. ins. fals bef. fled; H2. Ed. om. 90. Cl. onys. 96. Cl. H. nyst; Cm. nyste. 98. Cl. dorst make; Cp. dorste; H. dorst; Cm. durste. 99. Cp. a-; rest al. 101. Cl. H. faire; Cp. Cm. fair. 102. Cl. angelyk; Cp. aungelik. 112. Cl. Cm. selue; Cp. H. seluen. 126. Cl. om. 2nd and. // H. hoom; Cm. hom; Cl. home. 128. to] Cp. H. til. 129. Cl. dwelled; Cp. H. Cm. Ed. was dwellynge. 130. Cl. Kept; Cp. Kepte. // Cl. yong; H. Cp. yonge. 132. Cl. hadde children; rest children hadde. 133. Cm. lete; Cl. late; H. latt. 137. Cp. H. Cm. eft; Ed. efte; Cl. ofte. 139. H. Ed. vnder; H2. vndur; Cl. wonder (wrongly). // H. H2. eft; Ed. efte; Cl. ofte. // H. whielen (better wheelen); Cp. whilen; H2. whilyn; Ed. whelmen; Cl. weylen; Cm. weyle. 143. Cm. here; rest om. 144. Cm. dwelle; rest to dwelle (badly). // Cl. Troiane; H2. troianys; rest troyan. 146. H2. homere; rest Omer. // Cl. of (for 1st or). 155. Cl. come; rest comen (comyn). 158. Cl. swoot; Cp. H. swote; Cm. swete. 161. Cl. H. H2. Palladions; Cm. Palasdionis (for Palladionis). 162. Cl. H. wrongly ins. goodly before beste. Cp. Cm. beste; rest best. 163. H. Cm. wente; rest went. 164. Cl. Cm. herkenen; Cp. herknen. 167. Cl. bothe meene meste; H. Cp. bothe most meyne; Cm. bothe meste; Ed. bothe most. 168. Cl. and for the; Cp. H. Cm. Ed. om. for. 171. H. furste; Cl. Cm. first. 172. Cl. stode; Cp. stood. 174. Cl. yet thing seyn; H. þat seyn thing; Cm. yit seyen þyng; H2. seyn thing (best). // Cl. presed; H. Cp. preysed. 175. H. Cm. Cp. cloude; Cl. cloud. 176, 178. Cl. euerichone, allone. 192. Cp. baiten; Cl. beyten. 196. H. Cm. Cp. ful; Cl. om. 198. Cm. lewede; H2. lewde; Ed. leude; Cl. H. om. 199. H. Cm. Cp. Ed. which a labour; Cl. swych labour as. 202. Cl. loues; rest fooles (folis). 206. Cl. to loken; rest om. to. 208. Cp. He kidde; Cl. And kyd. 209. Cp. Ful; rest For. 211. Cl. blynd; Cp. blynde (twice). 213. Cl. Suriquidrie. 216. Cm. mot; Ed. mote; Cp. moot; Cl. moste; H. schall. 217. So Cl.; rest But alday fayleth thing that fooles wenden. 220. Cl. long; H. Cp. longe. 224. Cl. felawes; rest feres. 225. Cl. proud; H. Cm. Cp. proude. 227. Cp. swiche; Cl. swich. 228. Cl. dere; rest stere. 229. Cl. hert (see l. 228). Cl. H. wax; Cp. Cm. wex. 231. Cl. H. Wax; Cm. Wex. 234. scornen] Cp. seruen. 240. Cl. H. Cp. Cm. or; H2. Ed. and. 244. Cl. of; rest in. 246. Cp. Cm. wel; Cl. H. wele. 248. Cl. addermost (!). 252. Cp. H. H2. causeth; Cl. causen. 261. Cl. H. Cm. om. As (H2. Ed. have it). 262. Cl. letten; Cp. H. Cm. leten; H2. Ed. leuen. 264. Cl. Cm. Ioyes; rest Ioye. 266. H. refeere. 267. Cl. went; Cp. H. Cm. wente. // Cl. pleynge. 268. H. Cm. Cp. Ed. of; Cl. and. 272. H. percede; Ed. perced; Cl. Cp. procede (!). 274. Cl. wax; H. Cm. wex. 275. Cl. om. gan. 278. Cp. herte; Cl. hert. 280. Cl. pleynge. 286. Cm. Schewede; Cl. H. Shewed. 294. H. Cp. Cm. thoughte; Cl. thought. 294. Cl. fair; rest good. 301. Cp. H. wiste; Cl. wyst. 305. All eyen (eyȝen). 306. Cp. Ed. he felte; H. he felt; Cl. that he sholde; Cm. for to. 307. Cl. om. his. 308. Cl. Blyssyd; Cp. H. Blissed; Cm. Ed. Blessed; see 436. // Cl. Cp. kan thus; H. Ed. thus kan. 310. Cl. al; H. Cm. alle. // Cl. om. for. 312. Cl. ne made. // Cp. H. worde; Cl. word. 315. Cl. Ed. the seruise; rest om. the. 321. Cp. H. Cm. Lest; Cl. Lyst. 324. Cp. H. torneth; Cl. Cm. turneth. 327. Cl. H2. speche and cher; rest chere and speche. 329. H. Ed. wrie; Cl. wre; Cp. wrey. 330. Cl. lyst; Cp. lest; H. leste. 337. Cl. I; rest In. // Cl. noun-; H. non-; H2. Ed. no; Cp. Cm. veyn (for noun). 341. Cp. H. mote; Cl. Cm. mot. 351. Cl. H. om. that. 354. Cp. vn-til. 356. Cp. doon; H. don; Cl. Cm. done. 357. Cl. hym; rest hem. 360. Cl. om. eft. 361. Cl. ony lette; rest om. ony. 363. Cl. a; H2. in the; rest and. 369. H. dydde; Ed. dyd; rest dede. 371. Cl. seruauntz. 374. Cp. Cm. ne (2nd); Cl. H. no. 379. Cl. H. toke; Cp. took. 381. H. Cp. hiden; Cl. hide. 385. Cp. ȝeldeth. // Cl. om. seed. 386. Cp. H. muchel; Cl. muche. 387. Cl. For what (for What for). // Cl. speken; rest speke (spek). 394. Cp. H. Cm. myn; Cl. my. 395. Cp. H. tonges; Cm. tungis; Cl. tonge. // Cl. deference (!). 398. Cl. om. so. // Cl. it to; rest om. to. // Cl. hire; rest here. 399. Heading; so Cp. H.; Cm. Cantus; Ed. The song of Troylus. 400. Cl. om. no. 401. whiche] Cl. what. 402. H. Cp. whennes comth; Cm. whennys comyt; Cl. whens cometh. 403. Cl. thenketh. 405. Cl. me so goodly; rest to me sauory. 406. Cm. H2. om. it. 408. Cl. walyng. 409. Cl. thanne. 411. Cp. Cm. harm; Cl. H. harme. 412. Cl. om. thee. // Cp. swich; Cl. H. swiche. 413. Cp. H. Cm. be; rest so be. 416. Cm. stereles; H. stierlees; Cl. sterles; Cp. sterlees. 417. Cp. bitwixen; H. betwexen; Cm. be-twexe; Cl. by-twen. 423. Cp. oughte; Cm. auȝte; Cl. aught. // H. yours; Cp. youres; Cl. youre; see l. 422. 427. Cl. leue; Cp. H. Cm. lyue. 430. Cl. my lord; rest om. my. 432. estat] Cl. estal. 435. Cl. deynede; Cp. H. Cm. deyned. 436. After love, Cl. ins. þe, and H. ins. ye. // H2. blesse; Cl. blysse; Cp. H. blisse; Cm. blys. 439. held] Cl. hold. 440. Cm. brende; Cl. brend. 444. Cp. Cm. sette; Cl. H. sett. 446. H. preesse. 453. Cp. H. Cm. herte; Cl. hert. // All eye (eyȝe). 454. Cl. fairest; rest fairer. 457. Cl. tymes; see 531. 460. H2. deyd; Cp. Ed. deyde; Cl. Cm. deyede; H. dyede. 462. rewe] Cl. rew. 463. dredes] Cl. dredres. // Cp. H. Ed. fledde; rest fled. 464. Cp. thassege. // savacioun] Cl. saluacioun. 465. Ne in] Cm. Cp. Nyn. // Cl. doon; rest non (none). // Cl. H. Ed. fownes; Cm. founys. 470. Cl. shoures sharpe. // Cm. felle; Ed. fel; Cl. H. fille. 471. Cl. and; rest or. 475. Cl. trauayl. 483. H2. al; rest om.; read alle. 486. H. toke; Cl. took. 487. Cp. H. eue; Cl. euen. 490. So all. 491. H. Cm. ferde; Cl. ferd. 496. H2. as; rest that; read as that. 498. H. than; Cl. Cm. thanne. // Cm. fel to; Cl. Cp. felt. 500. Cl. H. hadde; Cm. hade; Ed. om. 502. Cp. H. Ed. whiche; Cl. such. // Cl. thought; felt. 503. Cl. dorst; Cp. dorste. 511. Cp. H. nat; Cm. not; Cl. nought. 516. H. leest; Cl. lest. 517. Cp. H. om. be. 518. Cm. febly; Cl. febely; H. fiebly. 520. H. Cp. Ed. louen; Cm. loue; Cl. leue. 528. Cl. om. a. 530. Cp. H. hidde; Ed. hyd; Cl. Cm. hed. 534. Cl. yet; rest ye. 536. Cp. H. Cm. may; Cl. wole. 544. Cl. H. herd; Cm. Cp. herde. 545. Cm. thoughte; Cl. H. bithought. 546. Cl. multeplie. 549. Cl. onys. // H. herde; Cl. herd. 554. Cl. om. som. 555. H. Cm. Cp. falle; Cl. fallen. 557. H. ferde; Cl. Cm. ferd. 563. Cm. H2. sorwe; Ed. sorowe; Cp. H. wo to; Cl. wo. 567. Cl. Cm. desirede. 569. Cp. H. Ed. sen me. 572. H. henne; Cm. hene; Cl. hens; Cp. hennes. 573. Cl. dishese. 578. Cl. Cm. wrought; H. y-wrogth; Cp. H2. Ed. yet wrought. 580. Cp. H. Ed. leste; Cl. Cm. lest. 581. Cl. Ne be; rest om. Ne. 582. Cl. sorwe; rest wo. 586. H. swiche; Cp. Cm. swich; Cl. such. 589. Cl. Cm. þyn; H. Cp. þi. 596. Cp. H. Cm. sorwful Troilus; Cl. Troilus sorwfully. 600. Cl. don. 601. Cp. Cm. truste; H. tryste; Cl. trust. 602. Cm. herkene; Cl. H. herke. // Cm. frend; Cl. H. frende. 606. Cp. H. sailleth; Cm. saylyth; Ed. sayleth; Cl. ffayleth. 607. Cl. brennynly. 612. Cm. colde; Cl. H. cold. 613. Cl. telle; rest tolde. 622. Cl. Cm. thyn; Cp. H. thi. 626. Cm. exces; Cl. Cm. excesse; Ed. axes. 630. Cl. ofte a wys man; Ed. H. Cp. a wys man ofte. 631. Ed. whetston; Cl. Cp. H. wheston; Cm. weston. 633. Cl. out; Cm. ouȝt; H. Cp. aught. 637. Cl. eche; rest his. 643. Cp. H. Ech; Cl. Cm. Eche. 647. Cl. ought; but see l. 649. 650. Cp. Though; H. Thoughe; Cl. Cm. Thow. // Cl. desir; H. Ed. desire; Cp. desyre. 653. Cp. herdesse; Cl. H. Cm. hierdesse. 654. H. Oonone. 658. Cl. No (for Now). // Cl. herkene; Cp. herkne; H. herken; Cm. herkenyt; Ed. herkeneth. 659. Cl. medecyne. 661. Cp. H. Ed. herbes; Cl. erbess. // Cl. Cp. H. she; rest he. 663. Cp. H. bounden; Cm. boundyn; Cl. bounde. 664. Ed. Admete; rest Amete. 665. Cl. koude al; rest om. al. 667. Cl. H. oone; Cm. on. 674. Cm. deyen; Cl. deye; Cp. H. dyen. 675. Cp. H. Ed. mo; Cl. Cm. more. 677. H2. thogh; Cm. þow; Cl. they; Cp. H. theigh. // thogh that] Ed. although. 680. Cl. as a; rest om. a. 681. Cl. Cp. Cm. telle; rest tel. 682. H2. Ed. final; Cl. finally; Cp. finaly; H. fynali; Cm. finially (!). 683. Cl. þyn (for þyng). 685. Cl. wygh (!). 687. H. witeth; Cl. Cm. weteth. 689. Cl. wot I. 690. H. Cm. For for; Ed. As for; Cl. For. 693. H. Cm. Cp. Ed. tel me; Cl. telle me. // Cl. Cm. thou; Cp. H. the. 694. Cl. Thise; rest The. 697. Cl. yn certeyn; rest om. yn. // Cl. next. 700. Cl. terys. 703. Cl. this; Cp. H. thy. 704. Cl. forto; rest to. 707. Cl. sechen; rest seche hem. 710. Cp. owghte; Cm. auȝte; Cl. H. ought. 716. Cp. Cm. wolde; Cl. wold; H. wol. 720. Cl. sithen; Cp. H. sith; Ed. sythe; H2. seyst. // Cp. H. Cm. Ed. that; Cl. yn whom. 723. H. Cp. Cm. lay as; Cl. om. as. 730. All lytargye (litargye). 734. H. Cp. synken; Cm. synkyn; Cl. synk yn. 737. H. Cp. answerde; Cl. answerede. 738. Cp. H. nas; Cl. nat (!); rest was. 739. Cl. om. no. 741. Cp. H. ybeten; Cm. I-bete; Cl. beten. 742. Cm. maner; Cp. H. manere; Cl. maneres. // H. Cp. þise; Cl. þis. 743. H. tellynge; Cl. Cm. tellyng. 744. Cl. ought; H. ougthte (sic). 745. Cp. Ed. ynough outsprynge; Cm. Inow outsprynge; Cl. not ought sprynge. 764. Cp. H. Cm. ther; rest om. 765. H. tel; Cl. Cm. telle. // Cl. wyst; Cp. H. Cm. Ed. wiste. 767. Cm. told hyre; Ed. H2. tolde it; Cp. H. tolde; Cl. telle. 769. Cp. by-soughte; Cl. H. bysought. 777. Cl. nyl not; rest om. not. // Cp. H. noon; Cm. non; Cl. no. // Cl. om. as I. 779. Cl. desespered; Cm. dispeyred; Cp. dispeired; H. despired. 780. Cp. bendiste; H. bendistee. 786. Cm. Cp. Ed. he; Cl. H2. the; H. om. // Ticius] Cm. which is; Ed. Tesiphus; H2. Siciphus. 787. Cl. foughles. 788. Cl. H. volturis; H2. vulturus; Ed. vultures; Cm. wulturnus (!). 793. Cl. folessh. 796. Cp. H. muche; Cl. Cm. meche. // Cl. lasse. 797. Ed. H2. lyest; Cp. list; H. liste; Cl. lyk. // H2. lyst; Cl. H. lest; Cm. leste. 798. Cl. wolde (for coude). 799. Cp. H. demen; Cm. demyn; Cl. deme. 803. H. Cm. thank; Cl. thonk. // Cl. then; Cp. than. 812. he] Cl. yet. 814. Cp. recreant; Cl. H. recreaunte. // Cl. H2. of; rest for. 815. Cl. feyr. 817. H. Cp. Ed. serue; Cl. seruen. 818. Cl. thenk. 819. Cp. Cm. fold; Cl. H. folde. 820. Cl. Cp. H. om. And. 821. Cl. þought. 822. Cl. hym soth. 824. Cl. Cp. H2. om. a. 826. woot she knew] Cl. knoweth (!). 830. Cl. Cp. H. ins. al bef. thy. 833. Cl. Cp. H. pieces. 837. Cm. wel; Cl. H. wele. 839. Cm. whel; Cl. H. whiel. 842. Cp. H. ȝe; Cm. ȝa; Cl. om. 846, 7. Cm. -gon, -on; Cl. H. -gone, -one. 848, 850. Cl. H. whiel; Cm. whelys (whel). 851. if] Cl. of (!). 855. what] Cl. whan. 858. Cm. onwrye; Ed. vnwrie; Cl. H. vnwre. 862, 864. Cm. tel; Cl. H. telle. 863. Cp. thy; H. þi; Cl. Cm. þin. 865. Cp. hopen; Cl. H. hopen the; Cm. Ed. hope. 867. H. Cm. wex; Cl. wax. 871. Cl. bigan; Cp. H. Cm. gan. 883. H2. Ne y; H. Ny (= Ne y); Cl. Cm. om. I. 885. Cl. frendliour. // H2. ne a; Cl. H. na (= ne a); see l. 884. 886. Cp. om. 2nd to. 889. Cl. H. hires; Ed. hers. 890-896. Cl. Cp. H. Cm. omit; from Ed. and H2.; also in Jo. and Harl. 2392. 891. Ed. first; H2. ferst; read firste. 892. Ed. H2. wele. // Ed. ordayne the (with the added; ordeynè is trisyllabic). 894. H2. om. nought but (!). 895. H2. wele; Ed. wel. 896. H2. oght; Ed. ought; read oughte. 902. H. Cp. nought; Cl. not. 907. Cp. H. Cm. han; Cl. a. // thus] Cl. so. 908. Ed. wont; Cp. H. wonte; Cl. woned. 911. H. Cp. often; Cl. Cm. ofte. 914. H2. monche; Ed. monch; Cl. mucche; H. muche. 915. Cl. om. make. 917. Cp. H. preydest; Cl. preyedest. 918. Cl. som. 921. H. slepten. 922. Cl. wolden. 925. Ed. H. Cp. Yet; Cm. Yit; Cl. Ye. // Cl. om. that. 927. Ed. H. Cp. thoughten; Cm. thouȝtyn; Cl. thought. // Cl. Ed. om. that. 928. Cl. to assayn; H. Cp. tassayen. 931. H. noon; Cp. non; Cl. none. 932. H. Cp. sey; Cl. seye. 935. H. Cp. herte; Cl. hert. 937. Cp. H. for-ȝiue; Cl. Cm. for-yeue. 938. Cp. liue; Cl. Cm. leue. 939. Ed. H2. Pandare; Cl. H. Pandarus. 941. Cl. sithen that; Cp. H. sithen. // H. wepen; Cm. wepyn; Cl. wopen. 945. H. Cm. ben; Cl. be. 947. as] Cl. al; H2. and. 950, 1. Cl. nexst. // Cl. Cp. H2. derk; rest derke. 952. the—of] Cl. after. 955. Cp. al; Cl. H. alle. 958. Cp. thy; Cl. Cm. þyn. 959. Cp. werke; Cl. werk. 960. Cm. H2. partyd; rest departed. 962. Cp. H. Cm. though swich; Cl. that such. 963. of] Cl. on. 966. H. though; Cl. Cm. thow. // may] Cl. mowe. 969. Cp. Cm. faste; rest fast. 972. Cm. bothis. 973. Cp. H. Ed. maken; Cl. Cm. make. 980. Cl. Cp. Cm. om. to. 982. Cp. H. Ed. bethynken; Cl. byþynke. 984. As] Cl. And. 985. Cp. Cm. trewely; Cl. H. trewly. H. Cp. sate; Cl. Cm. sat; (read sete). 986. H. Cp. louen; Cl. Cm. loue. 993. Cl. of it the wiser. 995. And] Cl. For. 997. it] Cl. that. 1002. now] Cl. ye. // Cl. Cp. H. wyse; rest grete. 1003. a] Cl. the. 1006. most god] Cm. god most. 1009. Cl. Whanne. 1017. MSS. telle; Ed. tel; see l. 681. 1020. Cp. H. here; Cl. heren. 1024. may] // Cl. wole. 1028. Cp. malone. 1033. Cp. H. Ed. any; Cl. Cm. ony. 1034. Cp. H. Ed. dredeles; rest dredles. 1036. Cp. myghte; Cl. H. myght. 1039. H. Cp. roughte; Cl. rought. 1042. H. Cm. Yif; Cp. Yef; Cl. Yeue. 1044-1092. Lost in Cm. 1044. Tho] Cl. But. // on] Cl. on his. 1045. H. Cp. Ed. hente; Cl. hent. 1048. Cp. H. dredelees; Cl. dredles. 1050. H. mathynketh; Ed. me athinketh; Cl. me ofthynketh; Cp. mathenketh. // Ed. masterte; Cp. me sterte. 1051. So all. 1052. Accent thou. 1059. Cp. H. than; Cl. thenne. 1067. Cp. H. wol; Cl. wole. 1068. Cp. H. sende; Cl. send. 1069. So all. 1074. Cl. lyoun. 1075. Wo] Cl. Who (!) // that (2)] H. a. 1079. Cp. bicom; Cl. by come. 1080. All most; read moste. 1084. H. hieghe; Cl. heigh. 1086. Cp. H. lat; Cl. late. 1092. H2. Ed. driueth; Cl. drieth; Cp. H. dryeth.
Incipit prohemium Secundi Libri.
1. Out of these blake wawes for to sayle,
O wind, O wind, the weder ginneth clere;
For in this see the boot hath swich travayle,
Of my conning that unnethe I it stere:
This see clepe I the tempestous matere
Of desespeyr that Troilus was inne:
But now of hope the calendes biginne.
2. O lady myn, that called art Cleo,
Thou be my speed fro this forth, and my muse,
To ryme wel this book, til I have do;
Me nedeth here noon other art to use.
For-why to every lovere I me excuse,
That of no sentement I this endyte,
But out of Latin in my tonge it wryte.
3. Wherfore I nil have neither thank ne blame
Of al this werk, but pray yow mekely,
Disblameth me, if any word be lame,
For as myn auctor seyde, so seye I.
Eek though I speke of love unfelingly,
No wonder is, for it no-thing of newe is;
A blind man can nat Iuggen wel in hewis.
4. Ye knowe eek, that in forme of speche is chaunge
With-inne a thousand yeer, and wordes tho
That hadden prys, now wonder nyce and straunge
Us thinketh hem; and yet they spake hem so,
And spedde as wel in love as men now do;
Eek for to winne love in sondry ages,
In sondry londes, sondry ben usages.
5. And for-thy if it happe in any wyse,
That here be any lovere in this place
That herkeneth, as the story wol devyse,
How Troilus com to his lady grace,
And thenketh, so nolde I nat love purchace,
Or wondreth on his speche and his doinge,
I noot; but it is me no wonderinge;
6. For every wight which that to Rome went,
Halt nat o path, or alwey o manere;
Eek in some lond were al the gamen shent,
If that they ferde in love as men don here,
As thus, in open doing or in chere,
In visitinge, in forme, or seyde hir sawes;
For-thy men seyn, ech contree hath his lawes.
7. Eek scarsly been ther in this place three
That han in love seyd lyk and doon in al;
For to thy purpos this may lyken thee,
And thee right nought, yet al is seyd or shal;
Eek som men grave in tree, som in stoon wal,
As it bitit; but sin I have begonne,
Myn auctor shal I folwen, if I conne.
Explicit prohemium Secundi Libri.
Incipit Liber Secundus.