Balade de bon Conseyl

Truth

Flee fro the prees and dwelle with sothfastnesse;

Flee from the crowd and dwell with soulfastness

Suffyce unto thy thing, though it be small,

Be content with what you have even if it isn’t much

For hord hath hate, and climbing tickelnesse,

Having too much causes hate and increasing insecurity

Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal.

People become envious and prosperity can blind a person

Savour no more than thee bihove shal,

Relish or want no more than what you have

Reule wel thyself that other folk canst rede,

Rule yourself so that others cannot rule you

And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.

And truth shall deliver you.

Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse

Do not disturb yourself to straighten that which is crooked

In trust of hire that turneth as a bal;

Fortune turns like a ball and presents different circumstances to different people

Muche wele stant in litel besinesse.

With peace-of-mind comes low anxiety

Be war therefore to sporne ayeyns an al,

Beware therefore not to kick sharp things

Stryve not, as doth the crokke with the wal.

Daunte thyself, that dauntest otheres deede,

Master yourself as other masters have done

And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.

And the truth will deliver you

That thee is sente, receyve in buxumnesse;

That which you are sent, receive in obedience

The wrastling for this world axeth a fal.

Wrestling for the world asks for a fall

Her is noon hoom, her nis but wildernesse;

Here is no home, here is only wilderness

Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beste out of thy stal!

Go forth and break from your chains

Know thy countree, look up, thank God of al;

Know your country, look up, thank God

Hold the heigh wey and lat thy ghost thee lede,

Hold to the highway (the way of principle) and let the Holy Spirit lead you.

And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.

And truth shall deliver you

Envoy

Therfore, thou Vache, leve thyn old wrecchedness;

Therefore, my listener, leave your wretchedness

Unto the world leve now to be thral.

Unto the world, cease now to be hesitant

Crye him mercy, that of his heigh goodnesse

Thank Him that in His goodness

Made thee of nought, and in especial

Made you from nothing

Draw unto him, and pray in general

Draw closer to Him and pray

For thee, and eek for othere, hevenelich mede;

For yourself and others for your reward (meadow)

And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.

And truth shall deliver you