CUM PHEBI RADIIS GRAVE CANCRI SIDUS INESTUAT.
— Metrum 6
"Whan that the hevy sterre of the Cancre eschaufeth by the
bemes of Phebus (that is to seyn, whan that Phebus the sonne is
in the sygne of the Cancre), whoso yeveth thanne largely his
seedes to the feeldes that refusen to resceyven hem, lat hym gon,
begiled of trust that he hadde to his corn, to accornes of okes.
Yif thow wolt gadere vyolettes, ne go thow nat to the purpre wode
whan the feeld, chirkynge, agryseth of cold by the felnesse of
the wynd that hyghte Aquilon. Yif thou desirest or wolt usen
grapes, ne seek thou nat with a glotonos hand to streyne and
presse the stalkes of the vyne in the first somer sesoun; for
Bachus, the god of wyn, hath rather yyven his yiftes to autumpne
(the lattere ende of somer). God
tokneth and
assigneth the tymes, ablynge hem to hir propre offices, ne he ne
suffreth nat the stowndes whiche that hymself hath devyded and
constreyned to ben imedled togidre. And forthy he that forleteth
certein ordenaunce of doynge by overthrowynge wey, he hath no
glad issue or ende of his werkes.
