Hiis igitur si pro se tecum Fortuna loqueretur.
Therfor, yif that Fortune spake with thee for hir-self in this
manere, for-sothe thou ne haddest nat what thou mightest answere.
And, if thou hast any-thing wherwith, thou mayest rightfully defenden
thy compleint, it behoveth thee to shewen it; and I wol
5
yeven thee space to tellen it.'
'Certeynly,' quod I thanne, 'thise beth faire thinges, and
enointed with hony swetenesse of rethorike and musike; and
only whyl they ben herd they ben delicious. But to wrecches is