Wherof, mi Sone, thou miht hiere,

Whan Covoitise hath lost the stiere[27]

P. ii. 202

Of resonable governance,

Ther falleth ofte gret vengance.

For ther mai be no worse thing

Than Covoitise aboute a king: 2230

If it in his persone be,

It doth the more adversite;

And if it in his conseil stonde,