The maters founde of this noble arte,

Gyvyng them place after the aspect,

And of tyme it hath the inspect,

As from a fayre parfit narracion,

Or els by stedfast argumentacion.

The whych was constitute by begynnyng,

As on the reason, and if apparaunce

Of the cause than by outwarde semyng

Be hard and difficulte in the utteraunce,

So as the mynde have no perceyveraunce,