Troilus and Criseyde Part 33

And sin he best to love is, and most meke, What nedeth feyned loves for to seke?

Lo here, of Payens corsed olde rytes, Lo here, what alle hir G.o.ddes may availle; 1850 Lo here, these wrecched worldes appetytes; Lo here, the fyn and guerdon for travaille Of Iove, Appollo, of Mars, of swich rascaille!

Lo here, the forme of olde clerkes speche In poetrye, if ye hir bokes seche. -- 1855

O moral Gower, this book I directe To thee, and to the philosophical Strode, To vouchen sauf, ther nede is, to corecte, Of your benignitees and zeles G.o.de.

And to that sothfast Crist, that starf on rode, 1860 With al myn herte of mercy ever I preye; And to the lord right thus I speke and seye:

Thou oon, and two, and three, eterne on-lyve, That regnest ay in three and two and oon, Uncirc.u.mscript, and al mayst circ.u.mscryve, 1865 Us from visible and invisible foon Defende; and to thy mercy, everichoon, So make us, Iesus, for thy grace digne, For love of mayde and moder thyn benigne! Amen.

Explicit Liber Troili et Criseydis.