| 1110 |
"Is this," quod she, "the cause of youre unreste?" |
| "Ye certeinly," quod he, "no wonder is!" |
| "Now, sire," quod she, "I koude amende al this, |
| If that me liste, er it were dayes thre, |
| So wel ye myghte bere yow unto me. |
| 1115 | But for ye speken of swich gentillesse |
| As is descended out of old richesse, |
| That therfore sholden ye be gentil men, |
| Swich arrogance nis nat worth an hen. |
| Looke who that is moost vertuous alway, |
| 1120 | Pryvee and apert, and moost entendeth ay |
| To do the gentil dedes that he kan, |
| Taak hym for the grettest gentil man. |
| Crist wole we clayme of hym oure gentillesse, |
| Nat of oure eldres for hire old richesse. |
| 1125 | For thogh they yeve us al hir heritage, |
| For which we clayme to been of heigh parage, |
| Yet may they nat biquethe, for no thyng |
| To noon of us hir vertuous lyvyng, |
| That made hem gentil men ycalled be, |
| 1130 | And bad us folwen hem in swich degree. |
|
| 1110 |
"Is this," asked she, "the cause of your unrest?" |
| "Yes, truly," said he, "and no wonder 'tis." |
| "Now, sir," said she, "I could amend all this, |
| If I but would, and that within days three, |
| If you would bear yourself well towards me. |
| 1115 | "But since you speak of such gentility |
| As is descended from old wealth, till ye |
| Claim that for that you should be gentlemen, |
| I hold such arrogance not worth a hen. |
| Find him who is most virtuous alway, |
| 1120 | Alone or publicly, and most tries aye |
| To do whatever noble deeds he can, |
| And take him for the greatest gentleman. |
| Christ wills we claim from him gentility, |
| Not from ancestors of landocracy. |
| 1125 | For though they give us all their heritage, |
| For which we claim to be of high lineage, |
| Yet can they not bequeath, in anything, |
| To any of us, their virtuous living, |
| That made men say they had gentility, |
| 1130 | And bade us follow them in like degree. |
|
