Quote#Love
If that thise men that lovers hem pretende
Quote byThomas Hoccleve · 1369–1426
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: If those men who to be lovers pretend Behaved more faithfully and did not lie, And dreaded to deceive or to offend, Then women might not choose to pass them by. But each man's heart's a fickle butterfly Which can alight on one just a short while. Can it be wrong in this case to beguile?.
English (original)
If that thise men that lovers hem pretende, To women weren feythfull good and trewe, And dreden hem to deceyven or offende, Women, to love hem, wolde nat eschewe; But every day hath man an herte newe: Yt, upon oon, abide can no while. What fore ys it, swich a wight to be-gile?
— Thomas Hoccleve
More from Thomas Hoccleve
O maister deere and Fadir reverent, Mi maister Chaucer, flour of eloquence, Mirour of fructuous entendement, O, universel fadir in science! Allas! þat þou thyn excellent prudence In þi bed mortel mightist naght by-qwethe;
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For the more paart, youthe is rebel, Un-to reson & hatith her doctryne.
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Many a servant un-to his lord seith, "Þat al the world spekith of him honour," Whan the contrarie of þat is sooth, in feith.
Who was hiër in philosophie To Aristotle, in our tonge, but thow?