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'Of courtaysye, as says Saynt Poule,
Al arn we membres of Jesu Kryst;
As heved and arme and legg and naule
Temen to hys body ful trwe and tryste,
Ryght so is uch a Krysten sawle
A longande lym to the Mayster of myste,
Thenne loke what hate other any gawle
Is tached other tyyed thy lymmes bytwyste:
Thy heved has nauther greme ne gryste,
On arme other fynger thagh thou ber byghe.
So fare we alle wyth luf and lyste
To kyng and quene by cortaysye.'

'Cortaysye,' quod I, 'I leve,
And charyte grete, be yow among.
Bot my speche that yow ne greve.
. . . . . .
Thyself in heven over hygh thou heve,
To make the quen that was so yonge.
What more honour moghte he acheve
That hade endured in worlde stronge,
And lyved in penaunce hys lyves longe,
Wyth bodyly bale hym blysse to byye?
What more worschyp moght he fonge
Then corounde be kyng by cortayse?'




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'By heavenly grace, so says Saint Paul,
In Jesus Christ we all are one
As hand, arm, leg and navel, all
Parts of the body, cling thereon;
So every Christian soul withal
Lives as one part of God's own Son.,
Reflect if any hate or gall
Your limbs have ever undergone;
The hand your ring is worn upon
On your own head brings no disgrace.
So do we here in joy live on
As queen and king by heavenly grace.'

'In grace, I said, 'I do believe,
May grace unto you all belong.
But that my words should no one grieve
. . . . . .
Your state too highly you conceive
To make a queen of one so young.
What greater height could man achieve
Who had endured through perils strong
And lived in penance all life long
And met great torments face to face ?
How could more honours on him throng
Than to be king by heavenly grace ?'



'By divine grace,' as says Saint Paul, 'we are all members in Jesus Christ, as head, and arm, and leg, and navel belong to the body firmly and faithfully. So every Christian soul is a limb belonging to the Master of spiritual mysteries. Then consider: what hatred or bitterness is implanted or fixed between your limbs ? Your head feels neither resentment nor spite if you wear a ring on your finger. [In the same manner] we all behave with love and joy to king and queen by divine grace.

'Divine grace,' I said, 'I believe and [that] great charity [is] among you. But do not let my words offend you . . . . . . . You exalt yourself too high in heaven to make yourself a queen who are so young. What greater honour could a man attain who remained steadfast in the world and lived in penance all his life long, through bodily pain achieving bliss; what greater honour could he receive than to be crowned king by divine grace ?'

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