Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918/Praise of Women

by Robert Mannyng

ROBERT MANNYNG OF BRUNNE

1288–1338

NO thyng is to man so dere
As wommanys love in gode manere.
A gode womman is mannys blys,
There here love right and stedfast is.
There is no solas under hevene,
Of alle that a man may nevene,^[1]
That shuld a man do so moche glew^[2]
As a gode womman that loveth trew.
Ne derer is none in Goddys hurde^[3]
Than a chaste womman with lovely worde.

 

1. nevene] name.
2. glew] gladness.
3. hurde] flock.