no differencë truëly Betwixt a wife that is of high degree (If of her body dishonést she be), And any poorë wench, other than this (If it so be they workë both amiss), But, for the gentle is in estate above, She shall be call’d his lady and his love; And, for that other is a poor womán, She shall be call’d his wench and his lemán: And God it wot, mine owen dearë brother, Men lay the one as low as lies the other. Right so betwixt a titleless tyránt And an outlaw, or else a thief erránt, The same I say, there is no differénce (To Alexander told was this senténce), But, for the tyrant is of greater might By force of meinie for to slay downright, And burn both house and home, and make all plain, Lo, therefore is he call’d a capitáin; And, for the outlaw hath but small meinie, And may not do so great an harm as he, Nor bring a country to so great mischíef, Men callë him an outlaw or a thief. But, for I am a man not textuel, I will not tell of texts never a deal; I will go to my tale, as I began.
When Phoebus’ wife had sent for her lemán, Anon they wroughten all their lust volage. This whitë crow, that hung aye in the cage, Beheld their work, and said never a word;