Thys mornynge starre of Radcleves rysynge raie, A true manne good of mynde and Canynge hyghte, Benethe thys stone lies moltrynge ynto claie, Untylle the darke tombe sheene an eterne lyghte.
I was Troian, as it is knowen out of drede; And if that yow remembre, I am Calkas, That alderfirst yaf comfort to your nede, And tolde wel how that ye sholden spede.
Wherfor I seye, that from eterne if he Hath wist biforn our thought eek as our dede, We have no free chois, as these clerkes rede.
By worde eterne whylom was hit shape That fro the fifte cercle, in no manere, Ne mighte a drope of teres doun escape.
Among the goddes hye it is affermed, And by eterne word write and confermed, 2350 Thou shalt ben wedded un-to oon of tho That han for thee so muchel care and wo; But un-to which of hem I may nat telle.
For sith that verray hevene is boght so dere, With tribulacioun and greet penaunce, How sholde I thanne, that live in swich plesaunce 1650 As alle wedded men don with hir wyvis, Come to the blisse ther Crist eterne on lyve is?
A veil of dread "In silenceeterne Hangs heavier still.
Tis incorruptible, and through it man Joys life eterne and all immortal things, While of his Angel brothers he becomes The peer, yea, and shall in the end surpass Them all, until his power and sway and realm Spread over all.
