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.

This noble ensample to his sheepe he gaf,--
That firste he wroughte and after he taughte.

This noble ensample to his sheepe he gaf,--
That firste he wroughte and after he taughte.

Ther n' is no werkman whatever he be,
That may both werken wel and hastily.
This wol read more

Ther n' is no werkman whatever he be,
That may both werken wel and hastily.
This wol be done at leisure parfitly.

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. . . .

The life so short, the crafts so long to learn.

The life so short, the crafts so long to learn.