Geoffrey Chaucer

The first vertue, sone, if thou wilt lerne,
Is to restreyne and kepen wel thy tonge.

The first vertue, sone, if thou wilt lerne,
Is to restreyne and kepen wel thy tonge.

For of Fortune's sharpe adversite,
The worste kynde of infortune is this,
A man to hav bent read more

For of Fortune's sharpe adversite,
The worste kynde of infortune is this,
A man to hav bent in prosperite,
And it remembren whan it passed is.

For oute of olde feldys, as men sey,
Comyth al this newe corn from yere to yere;
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For oute of olde feldys, as men sey,
Comyth al this newe corn from yere to yere;
And out of old bokis, in good fey,
Comyth al this newe science that men lere.

Experience, though non auctoritee
Were in this world, is right ynough to me
To speke of wo read more

Experience, though non auctoritee
Were in this world, is right ynough to me
To speke of wo that is in mariage. . . .

I am not the rose, but I have lived near the rose.
[Fr., Je ne suis pas la rose, read more

I am not the rose, but I have lived near the rose.
[Fr., Je ne suis pas la rose, mais j'ai vecu pres d'elle.]