CUM PRIMO POLO. — Metrum 3
"Whan Phebus, the sonne, bygynneth to spreden his
clernesse with rosene chariettes, thanne the sterre, ydymmed,
paleth hir white cheeres by the flambes of the sonne that
overcometh the sterre lyght. (This to
seyn, whan the
sonne is rysen, the day-sterre waxeth pale, and leeseth hir lyght
for the grete bryghtnesse of the sonne.) Whan the wode
waxeth
rody of rosene floures in the fyrst somer sesoun thurw the breeth
of the wynd Zephirus that waxeth warm, yif the cloudy wynd Auster
blowe felliche, than goth awey the fairnesse of thornes. Ofte the
see is cleer and calm without moevynge flodes, and ofte the
horrible wynd Aquylon moeveth boylynge tempestes, and
overwhelveth the see. Yif the forme of this world is so zeeld
stable, and yif it torneth by so manye entrechaungynges, wiltow
thanne trusten in the tumblenge fortunes of men? Wiltow trowen
on flyttynge goodes? It is certeyn and establissched by lawe
perdurable, that nothyng that is engendred nys stedfast ne
stable."