maner thinges.'

'Certes,' quod she, 'though a fooles herte is with thing

ravisshed, yet therfore is no general cause of the powers, ne of

a siker parfit herte to be loked after. Was not Nero the moste

shrewe oon of thilke that men rede, and yet had he power to

10

make senatours justices, and princes of many landes? Was not

that greet power?'

'Yes, certes,' quod I.

'Wel,' quod she, 'yet might he not helpe him-selfe out of