5389   To kepen ay his purpose,
5390   Til for drede his iyen close,
5391   And til a wikked deth hym take;
5392   Hym hadde lever a sondre shake,
5393   And late all hise lymes a sondre ryve,
5394   Than leve his richesse in his lyve.
5395   He thenkith parte it with no man;
5396   Certayn, no love is in hym than.
5397   How shulde love withynne hym be,
5398   Whanne in his herte is no pite?
5399   That he trespasseth, wel I wote,
5400   ffor ech man knowith his estate;
5401   ffor wel hym ought to be reproved
5402   That loveth nought, ne is not loved.
5403   'But se we arn to fortune comen,
5404   And hath oure sermoun of hir nomen,
5405   A wondir will y telle thee nowe,
5406   Thou herdist never sich oon, I trowe.
5407   I note where thou me leven shall,
5408   Though sothfastnesse it be it All,
5409   As it is writen, and is soth,
5410   That unto men more profit doth
5411   The froward fortune and contraire,
5412   Than the swote and debonaire: