NUBIBUS ATRIS CONDITA. — Metrum 7
"The sterres, covred with blake cloudes, ne mowen yeten
adoun
no lyght. Yif the truble wynd that hyghte Auster, turnynge and
walwynge the see, medleth the heete (that
is to
seyn, the boylynge up fro the botme), the wawes, that whilom
weren clere as glas and lyk to the fayre bryghte dayes,
withstande
anon the syghtes of men by the filthe and ordure that is
resolved. And the fleetynge streem, that royleth doun diversely
fro heye montaygnes, is areestid and resisted ofte tyme by the
encountrynge of a stoon that is departed and fallen fro some
roche. And forthy, yif thou wolt loken and demen soth with cleer
lyght, and hoolden the weye with a ryght path, weyve thow joie,
dryf fro the drede, fleme thow hope, ne lat no sorwe aproche
(that is to seyn, lat non of thise foure
passiouns
overcomen the or blenden the). For cloudy and derk is thilke
thoght, and bownde with bridelis, where as thise thynges
reignen."
