men seyn any-thing more verayly. And yif I torne ayein to the
studies of men, who is he to whom it sholde seme that he ne
sholde nat only leven thise thinges, but eek gladly herkne
hem?'
'Certes,' quod she, 'so it is; but men may nat. For they han
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hir eyen so wont to the derknesse of erthely thinges, that they ne
may nat liften hem up to the light of cleer sothfastnesse; but
they ben lyke to [briddes], of which the night lightneth hir lokinge,
and the day blindeth hem. For whan men loken nat the ordre of