†Enhaunced and honoured, and most dere—

†For they ben [half-goddes] in this world here—

Yit mot he doon bothe right, to pore and riche,

Al be that hir estat be nat y-liche,

390

†And han of pore folk compassioun.

†For lo, the gentil kynd of [the leoun]!

†For whan a flye offendeth him or byteth,

†He with his tayl awey the flye smyteth

†Al esily; for, of his genterye,