250

So excellent a clerk as that was he,

And other mo that coude so wel preche

Betrapped were, for aught they coude teche.

And trusteth wel, that it is no mervayle;

For wommen knewen pleynly hir entente.

255

They wiste how sotilly they coude assayle

Hem, and what falshood they in herte mente;

And thise clerkes they in hir daunger hente.