And that is life that aye shall last, to all our lineage after;
And that is the castle that Kinde made, Caro it hight,
And is as much to meane as man with a soul,
And that he wrought with work and with word both;
Through might of the majesty, man was ymaked.
Inwit and Allwits closed been therein,
For love of the lady Anima, that life is nempned.[37]
Over all in man's body, she walketh and wand'reth,
And in the heart is her home, and her most rest,
And Inwit is in the head, and to the hearte looketh,
What Anima is lief or loth,[38] he leadeth her at his will
Then had Wit a wife, was hote Dame Study,
That leve was of lere, and of liche boeth.
She was wonderly wrought, Wit me so teached,
And all staring, Dame Study sternely said;
'Well art thou wise,' quoth she to Wit, 'any wisdoms to tell
To flatterers or to fooles, that frantic be of wits;'
And blamed him and banned him, and bade him be still,
With such wise wordes, to wysh any sots,
And said, '_Noli mittere_, man, _margaritae_, pearls,
Amonge hogges, that have hawes at will.
They do but drivel thereon, draff were them lever,[39]
Than all precious pearls that in paradise waxeth.[40]
I say it, by such,' quod she, 'that shew it by their works,
That them were lever[41] land and lordship on earth,
Or riches or rentes, and rest at their will,
Than all the sooth sawes that Solomon said ever.
Wisdom and wit now is not worth a kerse,[42]
But if it be carded with covetise, as clothers kemb their wool;
Whoso can contrive deceits, and conspire wrongs,