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The Complete Works of John Gower

Edited from the manuscripts with introductions, notes and glossaries by G. C. Macaulay
Gower, John (1325?-1408)
  
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141

iii.

Inuidie pars est detraccio pessima, pestem
Que magis infamem flatibus oris agit.
Lingua venenato sermone repercutit auras,
Sic ut in alterius scandala fama volat.
Morsibus a tergo quos inficit ipsa fideles,
Vulneris ignoti sepe salute carent.
Set generosus amor linguam conseruat, vt eius
Verbum quod loquitur nulla sinistra gerat.
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