30
yet, although the party be yolden, he may with wordes saye his
quarel is trewe, and to yelde him, in the contrarye, for drede of
dethe he is compelled; and he that graunteth and no stroke hath
feled, he may not crepe away in this wyse by none excusacion.
Indifferent folk wil say: "ye, who is trewe, who is fals, him-selfe
35
knowlegeth tho thinges." Thus in every syde fame sheweth to
thee good and no badde.'
'But yet,' quod I, 'some wil say, I ne shulde, for no dethe,