2

Three daughters had this King, of whom my tale

Time hath preserved, that loveth to despise

The wealth which men misdeem of much avail,

Their glories for themselves that they devise;

For clerkly is he, old hard-featured Time,

And poets’ fabl’d song, and lovers’ rhyme

He storeth on his shelves to please his eyes.

3

These three princesses all were fairest fair;