Belorophon[[292]] lete hym example be
In all maner of dedes that doo will he,
The which hade mech leuer to dye
Than to supporte vntrouth be any weye.
Belorophon was a knyght of ryght grete beaute and full of trowthe. His stepmodir louyd hym so hoote þat sche required it of hym and, because that he wold not concent to hir will, sche dyde so myche that he was condempned to be deuoured with feers bestis, and he had mo lyste to chese the deth[[293]] than to do vntrwthe. To this purpose Hermes seyth, “Be glader to dye withowte cawse than to do a inconuenyence.”
We schall come now to declare the Commawndementis off the Feyth, and there too we shall take an allegorie to oure purpose.
Berolophon, the which was so full of trowthe, may be noted for God of Heuen and, as his hy mercy hath ben to vs, and is, full of all trouth, we may take the Fryst Commawndement, the which seith, “Thou shalt worchip no strawnge goddes.” To this seith Seynt Austyn that the worchippe the which is called latre[[294]] thou shulde not do it, neythir to ydoile ne to ymage ne to no lekenes of no maner of creature, for that is a dew worchyppe all only to God, and in this Commawndement is defendede all ydolatrie. To that owre Lord seyth in the Gospell, [“Dominum Deum tuum adorabis et illi soli seruies”].[[295]]
XXXVI.
Maymon,[[296]] thyn owyn trewe cosyn indede,
The which is thy neyghburgh at þi nede,