LEARNING VAIN WITHOUT

GOOD LIFE.

Written at Oxinfurde (Oxford).

J.

To speak of science, craft, or sapience,
Of virtue, moral cunning, or doctrine;
Of jure,' of wisdom, or intelligence;

Of every study, lair, or discipline;
All is but tynt,3 or ready for to tyne,4
Not using it as it should used be, I
The craft exerceing,5 considering not the
fine :6

A perilous sickness is vain prosperity!

II.

The curious probation logical;

The eloquence of ornate rhetorie; The natural science philosophical;

The dark appearance of astronomy; The theologue's sermon; the fables of poetry;

Without good life all in the self 7 does die, As Mayis flowers does in September dry: A perilous life is vain prosperity!

111.

Wherefore, ye clerkis, greatest of con

stance,

Fullest of science and of knowledging, To us be mirrors in your governance ! 9 And in our darkness be lamps of shining!

MEDITATION IN WINTER.

I.

Into thir1 dark and drublie2 days,
When sable all the heaven arrays,

When misty vapours clouds the skies,
Nature all courage me denies
Of songs, balladis, and of plays.

II.

When that the night does lengthen hours,
With wind, with hail, and heavy showers,
My dule spreit 3 does lurk forschoir; 4
My heart for languor does forloir.5
For lack of Summer with his flowers.

III.

I wake, I turn; sleep may I nought;
I vexed am with heavy thought;
This world all o'er I cast about:
And aye the mair I am in doubt,
The mair that I remeid have sought.

IV.

I am assayed on every side.

Despair says aye, "In time provide,
And get something whereon to leif;"
Or, with great trouble and mischief,
Thou shall into this court abide."

V.

Then Patience says,
"Be not aghast ;
Hold hope and truth within thee fast;
And let Fortune work forth her rage;
When that no reason may assuage,

Or then infrustrartis all your long learning; Till that her glass be run and past.”

And with thy neighbours gladly lend Take thou example, and spend with