And if they find but little, they will grudge with thee[1] and say thee never a good word.
Think thereon betimes, and be thine own friend; for, and thou canst not love thyself, who will love thee? Canst thou love every[2] creature better than thyself? If thou do so, I wis thou art not wise. Remember (what I say now, for thou shalt find this true, every word. And though I speak thus grievously and straitly unto thee, marvel not for it; for he am I that shall abide and suffer, and endure the pains of thy distress. Alas that ever I was coupled with thee! And so have I cause to say, for I shall be punished without favour for thy deeds. How hastily, how soon [I cannot say. How unadvisedly and how unreadily thou purveyeth for me;] I wot never. How should any other creature have compassion on me when thou hast not, that, sith that thou were first formed a creature, I have always been with thee and never from thee; and in the age of thine innocency was kept full virtuously to my great comfort; and in thy middle age was kept full viciously and sinfully to my great sorrow; and in thine old age little or nought remedied[3] thy wretched living.
Alas! Alas! Alas! that ever thou and I were coupled together! For the season hasteth fast that I must go to pains for thy misrule, and endure pain — whether it be eternal or for a long season. I wot not what remedy thy worldly friends will find to ease me. I am in great dread. I trow they will have little com-
