their clere gentillesse, than mote they nedes ben gentil for their
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gentil dedes, and not thou; for of thy-selfe cometh not such
maner gentilesse, praysinge of thy desertes. Than gentillesse of
thyne auncesters, that forayne is to thee, maketh thee not gentil,
but ungentil and reproved, and-if thou continuest not their
gentilesse. And therfore a wyse man ones sayde: "Better is it
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thy kinne to ben by thee gentyled, than thou to glorifye of thy
kinnes gentilesse, and hast no desert therof thy-selfe."