7503   Quod alderfirst Dame Abstinence,
7504   And thus began she hir sentence:
7505   'Sir, the first vertue, certeyn,
7506   The gretest, and most sovereyn
7507   That may be founde in any man,
7508   For having, or for wit he can,
7509   That is, his tonge to refreyne;
7510   Therto ought every wight him peyne.
7511   For it is better stille be
7512   Than for to speken harm, pardee!
7513   And he that herkeneth it gladly,
7514   He is no good man, sikerly.
7515   And, sir, aboven al other sinne,
7516   In that art thou most gilty inne.
7517   Thou spake a Iape not long Ago,
7518   (And, sir, that was right yvel do)
7519   Of a yong man that here repaired,
7520   And never yet this place Apaired.
7521   Thou seydest he awaited nothing
7522   But to disceyve Fair-Welcoming.
7523   Ye seyde nothing sooth of that;
7524   But, sir, ye lye; I tell you plat;
7525   He ne cometh no more, ne goth, pardee!
7526   I trow ye shal him never see.