To hindre or slaundre, and also to bakbyte;

125

For [this] hir study fynally it is

And hir plesaunce, alwey to deme amis.

Most noble princes, cherisshers of vertue,

Remembreth you of high discrecioun,

The first vertue, most plesing to Jesu,

130

(By the wryting and sentence of Catoun),

Is a good tonge, in his opinioun;