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3043 It was ordeyned, that chastite
3044 Shulde of the roser lady be,
3045 Which, of the bothoms more and lasse,
3046 With sondre folk assailed was,
3047 That she ne wist what to doo.
3048 ffor venus hir assailith soo,
3049 That nyght and day from hir she stale
3050 Bothoms and roses over All.
3051 To Resoun thanne praieth chastite,
3052 Whom Venus hath flemed over the see,
3053 That she hir doughter wolde hir lene,
3054 To kepe the roser fresh and grene.
3055 Anoon Resoun to chastite
3056 Is fully assented that it be,
3057 And grauntide hir, at hir request,
3058 That shame, by cause she honest,
3059 Shall keper of the roser be.
3060 And thus to kepe it ther were three,
3061 That noon shulde hardy be ne bolde
3062 Were he yong, or were he olde
3063 Ageyn hir will awey to bere
3064 Bothoms ne roses, that there were.
3065 I hadde wel spede, hadde I not bene
3066 Awayted with these three, and sene.
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