Deeth, by thy deeth, hath harm irreparable

Unto us doon; hir vengeable duresse

Despoiled hath this land of the swetnesse

Of rethoryk; for unto[[181]] Tullius

Was never man so lyk amonges us.

Also who was heyr[[182]] in philosophye

To Aristotle, in our tonge, but thou?

The steppes of Virgyle in poesye

Thou folwedest eek, men wot wel y-now.

That combre-world, that thee (my maister) slow—