¶ But duryng the tym of Reconsylyacyon
¶ Thy tyme of pylgremage loke well thou spende
¶ And then woll gracyous Predestynacyon
¶ Bryng the to glory at thy law ende
¶ And euen with that came to my mynde
¶ My fyrst conclusyon that I was aboute
¶ To haue dreuen er slepe made me to lute
¶ That is to say how Sensualyte
¶ With Reason to acorde myght be brought aboute
¶ Whiche caused me to knele downe on my kne
¶ And beseke Doctryne determyne that doute
¶ Oo Lord god sayd Doctryne canst thou not withoute
¶ Me that conclusyon bryng to an ende
¶ Ferre is fro the wytte & ferther good mende
¶ And euen with that Dethe gan appere
¶ Shewyng hymselfe as though that he wolde
¶ His darte haue occupyed within that herbere
¶ But there was none for hym yong nor olde
¶ Saue oonly I Doctrine hym tolde
¶ And when I herde hyr with hym comon thus
¶ I me withdrew behynde Morpleus.
¶ Dredyng full sore lest he with his dart.
¶ Through Doctrynes wordes ony entresse.
¶ In me wolde haue had or claymed ony part
¶ Which sholde haue caused me grete heuynesse
¶ Within whiche tyme & short processe
¶ Came thyder Reason and Sensualyte.
¶ A quoth Doctryne ryght welcome be ye
¶ Hit is not long sythe we of you spake
¶ Ye must er ye goo determyne a doute
¶ And euen with that she the mater brake
¶ To theym & tolde hit euery where aboute
¶ I wolde haue be thens yf I had moute
¶ For fere I loked as blake as a cole
¶ I wolde haue cropen in a mouse hole
¶ What quoth Doctryne where is he now
¶ That meud this mater straunge & dyffuse
¶ He is a cowarde I make myn auow
¶ He hyded his hede his mocyon to refuse
¶ Blame hym not quod Reason alway that to vse
¶ When he seeth Dethe soo nere at his honde
¶ Yet is his part hym to withstonde
¶ Or at the leste way elles fro hym flee
¶ As longe as he may who dooth other wyse
¶ Is an ydeote quoth Sensualytee
¶ Who dredeth not Dethe wyse men hym dyspyse
¶ What said Doctryne how long hathe this gyse
¶ Be holden & vsed thus atwixe you tweyne
¶ Ye were not wonte to acorde certeyne
¶ Yes quoth Reason in this poynt alway
¶ To euery man haue we yeuen our counsayll
¶ Dethe for to flee as long as they may
¶ Although wo otherwyse haue done our trauayl
¶ Eche other to represse yet withoute fayll
¶ In that poynt oonly dyscordeth we neuer
¶ Thus condescended therin be we for euer
¶ Aha sayd Doctryne then is the conclusyon
¶ Clerely determined of the gret doute
¶ That here wes meuyd & halfe in derysyon
¶ She me then called & bade me loke oute
¶ Come forthe she sayd & feere not this route
¶ And euen with that Reason & Sensualyte
¶ And Dethe fro thens were vanysshed all thre
¶ Then loked I forthe as Doctryne me badde
¶ When Dethe was gone me thought I was bolde
¶ To shewe myselfe but yet was I sadde
¶ Me thought my doute was not as I wolde
¶ Clerely and openly declared & tolde
¶ Hit sowned to me as a parable
¶ Derke as a myste or a fayned fable