THE TALE（第10页）

*priveandapert，*andstintendethaye*inprivateandpublic*

todothegentledeedesthathecan;

andtakehimforthegreatestgentleman.

christwill，*weclaifhiurgentleness，*wills，requires

notofourelders*fortheiroldrichess.*ancestors

forthoughtheygaveusalltheirheritage，

forwhichweclaimtobeofhighparage，**birth，descent

yetmaytheynotbequeathe，fornothing，

tononeofus，theirvirtuousliving

thatmadethemgentlemencalledtobe，

andbadeusfollowtheminsuchdegree.

wellcanthewisepoetofflorence，

thathightedante，speakofthissentence:**sentiment

lo，insuchmanner*rhymeisdantestale.*kindof

fullseld*uprisethbyhisbranchessmale*seldom

prowessofman，forgodofhisgoodness

willsthatweclaifhiurgentleness;

forofoureldersmaywenothingclaim

buttempralthingsthatmanmayhurtandmai

ekeeverywightknowsthisaswellasi，

ifgentlenesswereplantednaturally

untoacertainlineagedowntheline，

priveandapert，thenwouldtheyneverfine**ceas

todoofgentlenessthefairoffic

thenmighttheydonovillainynorvice.

takefire，andbearittothedarkesthous

betwixtthisandtheuntofcaucasus，

andletmenshutthedoores，andgothenne，**thence

yetwillthefireasfairandlightebrenne**bur

astwentythousandmenmightitbehold;