7527   Fair-Welcoming in prison is,
7528   That ofte hath pleyed with you, er this,
7529   The fairest games that he coude,
7530   Withoute filthe, stille or loude;
7531   Now dar [he] nat [him]self solace.
7532   Ye han also the man do chace,
7533   That he dar neither come ne go.
7534   What meveth you to hate him so
7535   But properly your wikked thought,
7536   That many a fals lesing hath thought?
7537   That meveth your foole eloquence,
7538   That iangleth ever in Audience,
7539   And on the folk areyseth blame,
7540   And doth hem dishonour and shame,
7541   For thing that may have no preving,
7542   But lyklinesse, and contriving.
7543   For I dar seyn, that Reson demeth,
7544   It is not al sooth thing that semeth,
7545   And it is sinne to controve
7546   Thing that is [for] to reprove;
7547   This wot ye wel; and, sir, therefore
7548   Ye arn to blame [wel] the more.
7549   And, nathelesse, he rekketh lyte;
7550   He yeveth nat now thereof a myte;