'And so me thinketh,' quod I, 'that a poste alone, stonding

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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

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†altogider. How ofte than suche famulers, in their moste pryde

of prosperitè, ben sodainly overthrowen! Thou hast knowe