d,
& also w_i_t_h_ goodly termes alyed.

P) Redyt[=h] gover i_n_ his wrytyng morall[e],
That Auncyente ffader of memorye, 324
Redyt[=h] his bookes called co_n_fessyonall[e],
w_i_t_h_ many a-nother_e_ vertuvs tretye
ffull[e] of sentence sett full[e] fructvously,
That hy_m_ to rede shall[e] geve you covrage, 328
he ys so full[e] of frute, se_n_tence, & langage.

CAXTON'S TEXT.

[45]

Excersise your self also in redyng_e_
Of bookes enorned_e_ with eloquence
[Sidenote: Practice reading of eloquent books.]
Ther shal ye fynde / bothe plesir & lernyng_e_ 311
So that ye may / in euery good presence
Somwhat fynde / as in sentence
That shal acorde / the tyme to ocupy
That ye not nede / to stonden ydelly 315

[46]

[Sidenote: Leaf 8 b.]

It is fayr / for to be comynycatyf
In maters vnto purpose acordyng_e_
[Sidenote: It is right to talk pertinently,]
So that a wyght seme excersyf 318
For trusteth wel / it is a tedyous thyng_e_
For to here a chylde / multeplye talkyng
Yf it be not to the purpose applyed_e_
[Sidenote: but a bore if the talk is irrelevant.]
And_e_ also with / goodly termys alyed_e_ 322

[47]

Redeth gower in his wrytyng_e_ morall_e_
[Sidenote: Read Gower's]
That auncyent[1] fader of memorye
[Sidenote 1: Orig. anucyent.]
Redeth his bookes / called_e_ confessionall_e_ 325
[Sidenote: _Confessio Amentis_.]
With many another vertuous trayttye
Ful of sentence / set ful fructuosly
That hym to rede / shal gyue you corage
He is so ful of fruyt, sente_n_ce and langage 329

* * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT.

[48]

O Fader and Founder of eternate eloquence,
That eluminede all this oure britaigne;
To sone we lost his lauriate presence, 332
O lusty licoure of that fulsom_e_ fountaigne;
Cursed deth, why hast thou this poete slayne,
I mene Fadir chaucers, mastir Galfride?
Allas! the while, that eu_e_r he from vs diede. 336

[49]

Redith his bokys fulle of all plesaunce,
Clere in sentence, in longage excellent,
Brefly to wryte suche was his suffesaunce, 339
What-euer to sey he toke in his entent,
His longage was so feyre and p_er_tinent,
That semed vnto mennys heryng,
Not[1] o