Þat so worþy as ȝe wolde wynne hidere,
& pyne yow with so pouer a mon, as play wyth your knyȝt,
With any skynneȝ countenaunce, hit keuereȝ me ese;
Bot to take þe toruayle1 to my-self, to trwluf expoun,
& towche þe temeȝ of tyxt, & taleȝ of armeȝ,
To yow þat, I wot wel, weldeȝ more slyȝt
Of þat art, bi þe half, or a hundreth of seche
As I am, oþer euer schal, in erde þer I leue,
Hit were a fole fele-folde, my fre, by my trawþe.
I wolde yowre wylnyng worche at my myȝt,