'And so me thinketh,' quod I, 'that a poste alone, stonding
90
upright upon a basse, may lenger in greet burthen endure than
croken pilers for al their helpes, and her ground be not siker.'
'That is sothe,' quod she; 'for as, [if] the blynde in bering of
the lame ginne stomble, bothe shulde falle, right so suche pillers,
so envyroned with helpes, in falling of the grounde fayleth
95
†altogider. How ofte than suche famulers, in their moste pryde
of prosperitè, ben sodainly overthrowen! Thou hast knowe