155

For either alle thinges ben referred and brought to nought,

and [floteren] with-oute governour, despoiled of oon as of hir

propre heved; or elles, yif ther be any thing to which that

alle thinges tenden and hyen, that thing moste ben the soverein

good of alle goodes.'

160

Thanne seyde she thus: 'O my nory,' quod she, 'I have

gret gladnesse of thee; [for thou hast] ficched in thyn herte

the middel soothfastnesse, that is to seyn, the prikke; but this