Note 58 — Chapter I · FROM THE ORIGINS TO CHAUCER—THE CONSTITUTION OF ENGLISH VERSE[49]
Reading edition
Thus queth Alured. Wis childe is fader blisse. If hit so bi-tideth that thu bern ibidest, the hwile hit is lutel ler him mon-thewes than hit is wexynde; hit schal wende thar to. the betere hit schal iwurthe euer buuen eorthe, ac if thu him lest welde werende on worlde lude and stille his owene wille.
Mon that wol of wysdam heren, At wyse Hendyng he may lernen, That wes Marcolues sone; Gode thonkes and monie thewes Forte teche fele shrewes; For that wes ever is wone. . . . . . . . Wis mon halt is wordes ynne, For he nul no gle begynne Er he have tempted is pype. Sot is sot, and that is sene, For he wol speke wordes grene Er then hue buen rype, "Sottes bolt is sone shote," Quoth Hendyng.