After this, he holds him to that prince's will, and yearns after no more than he grants him.
"As in water face is to face, so the heart of man." Out of the far past comes the cry of bereavement mingled with the prayer for hope: we hear, and lo! it is the cry and the prayer of a man like ourselves.
From the words of the greatest man of his age, let me now gather two rich blossoms of utterance, presenting an embodiment of religious duty and aspiration, after a very practical fashion. I refer to two short lyrics, little noted, although full of wisdom and truth. They must be accepted as the conclusions of as large a knowledge of life in diversified mode as ever fell to the lot of man.
GOOD COUNSEL OF CHAUCER.
Fly from the press, and dwell with soothfastness; truthfulness.
Suffice[29] unto thy good, though it be small;
For hoard hath hate, and climbing tickleness;[30]
Praise hath envy, and weal is blent over all.[31]
Savour[32] no more than thee behové shall.
Rede well thyself that other folk shall rede; counsel.
And truth thee shall deliver—it is no drede. there is no doubt.
Paine thee not each crooked to redress, every crooked thing.
In trust of her that turneth as a ball: Fortune.
Great rest standeth in little busi-ness.
Beware also to spurn against a nail; nail—to kick against
Strive not as doth a crocké with a wall. [the pricks.
Demé thyself that demest others' deed; judge.
And truth thee shall deliver—it is no drede.
That thee is sent receive in buxomness: submission
The wrestling of this world asketh a fall. tempts destruction
Here is no home, here is but wilderness:
Forth, pilgrim, forth!—beast, out of thy stall!
Look up on high, and thanké God of[33] all.
Waivé thy lusts, and let thy ghost[34] thee lead,
And truth thee shall deliver—it is no drede.
This needs no comment. Even the remark that every line is worth meditation may well appear superfluous. One little fact only with regard to the rhymes, common to this and the next poem, and usual enough in Norman verse, may be pointed out, namely, that every line in the stanza ends with the same rhyme-sound as the corresponding line in each of the other stanzas. A reference to either of the poems will at once show what I mean.
The second is superior, inasmuch as it carries one thought through the three stanzas. It is entitled A Balade made by Chaucer, teaching what is gentilnesse, or whom is worthy to be called gentill.
The first stock-father of gentleness— ancestor of the race
What man desireth gentle for to be [of the gentle.
Must follow his trace, and all his wittés dress track, footsteps:
Virtue to love and vices for to flee; [apply.
For unto virtue longeth dignity, belongeth.
And not the reverse falsely dare I deem,[35]
All wear he mitre, crown, or diadem. although he wear.