That mannes word was obligacioun,

And now hit is so fals and deceivable,

That word and deed, as in conclusioun,

5

Ben no-thing lyk, for turned up so doun

Is al this world for mede and wilfulnesse,

That al is lost for lak of stedfastnesse.

What maketh this world to be so variable

But lust that folk have in dissensioun?

10