QUOD MUNDUS STABILI FIDE. — Metrum 8
"That the world with stable feyth varieth accordable
chaungynges; that the contrarious qualites of elementz holden
among hemself allyaunce perdurable; that Phebus, the sonne, with
his goldene chariet bryngeth forth the rosene day; that the moone
hath comaundement over the nyghtes, whiche nyghtes Esperus, the
eve-sterre, hath brought; that the see, gredy to flowen,
constreyneth with a certein eende his floodes, so that it is nat
leveful to strecche his brode termes or bowndes uppon the erthes
(that is to seyn, to coveren al the erthe) — al this accordaunce
[and] ordenaunce of thynges is bounde with love, that governeth
erthe and see, and hath also comandement to the hevene. And yif
this love slakede the bridelis, alle thynges that now loven hem
togidres wolden make batayle contynuely, and stryven to fordo the
fassoun of this world, the which they now leden in accordable
feith by fayre moevynges. This love halt togidres peples joyned
with an holy boond, and knytteth sacrement of mariages of chaste
loves; and love enditeth lawes to trewe felawes. O weleful were
mankynde, yif thilke
love that governeth hevene governede yowr
corages."
