And techeth hou to speke faire,

Which is a thing full necessaire

To contrepeise the balance,

Wher lacketh other sufficance.

[ii. Rhetoric.]

v. Compositi pulcra sermonis verba placere[1047]

Principio poterunt, veraque fine placent.

Herba, lapis, sermo, tria sunt virtute repleta,

Vis tamen ex verbi pondere plura facit.[1048]

Above alle erthli creatures