From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Physician's Tale, lines 72-104

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Physician's Tale
lines 72-104: A note on how to raise children

	And ye maistresses, in youre olde lyf,
	That lordes doghtres han in governaunce,
	Ne taketh of my wordes no displesaunce;
75	Thenketh that ye been set in governynges
	Of lordes doghtres, oonly for two thynges;
	Outher for ye han kept youre honestee,
	Or elles ye han falle in freletee,
	And knowen wel ynough the olde daunce,
80	And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce
	For everemo; therfore for Cristes sake,
	To teche hem vertu looke that ye ne slake.
	A theef of venysoun, that hath forlaft
	His likerousnesse, and al his olde craft,
85	Kan kepe a forest best of any man.
	Now kepeth wel, for if ye wole, ye kan.
	Looke wel that ye unto no vice assente,
	Lest ye be dampned for your wikke entente.
	For whoso dooth, a traitour is, certeyn;
90	And taketh kepe of that that I shal seyn,
	Of alle tresons, sovereyn pestilence
	Is whan a wight bitrayseth innocence.

	You governesses, who in older life
	Have great lords' daughters in your governance,
	Take from my words no foolish petulance;
75	Remember you've been set to governings
	Of lords' daughters for but one of two things:
	Either that you have kept your honesty,
	Or else that you've succumbed to your frailty,
	And having learned the measures of love's dance,
80	Have now forsaken such ways of mischance
	For evermore; therefore, for Jesus' sake,
	See that you teach them virtue, nor mistake.
	A poacher of the deer, who has reformed,
	Left wicked ways and been by goodness warmed,
85	Can guard a forest best of any man.
	So guard them well, for if you will you can;
	Look that to no vice do you give assent,
	Lest you be damned for your so vile intent;
	For who does thus is traitor, that's certain.
90	And take good care that I speak not in vain;
	Of treacheries all, the sovereign pestilence
	Is when adults betray young innocence.

	Ye fadres and ye moodres, eek also,
	Though ye han children, be it oon or two,
95	Youre is the charge of al hir surveiaunce
	Whil that they been under youre governaunce.
	Beth war, if by ensample of youre lyvynge,
	Or by youre necligence in chastisynge,
	That they ne perisse; for I dar wel seye,
100	If that they doon ye shul it deere abeye;
	Under a shepherde softe and necligent
	The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb torent.
	Suffiseth oon ensample now as here,
	For I moot turne agayn to my mateere.

	You fathers and you mothers fond, also,
	If you have children, be it one or two,
95	Yours is the burden of their wise guidance
	The while they are within your governance.
	Beware that not from your own lax living,
	Or by your negligence in chastening
	They fall and perish; for I dare well say,
100	If that should chance you'll dearly have to pay.
	Under a shepherd soft and negligent
	Full many a sheep and lamb by wolf is rent.
	Suffice one instance, as I give it here,
	For I must in my story persevere.