Truth
Balade de Bon Conseyl
Flee fro the prees, and dwelle with sothfastnesse;
Suffyce unto thy thing, though it be smal,
For hord hath hate, and climbing tikelnesse,
Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal.
Savour no more thanne thee bihove shal,
Reule wel thyself, that other folk canst rede,
And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.
Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse
In trust of hir that turneth as a bal;
Gret reste stant in litel besinesse.
Be war therfore to sporne ayeyns an al,
Stryve not, as doth the crokke with the wal.
Daunte thyself, that dauntest otheres dede,
And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.
That thee is sent, receyve in buxumnesse;
The wrastling for this world axeth a fal.
Her is non hoom, her nis but wildernesse:
Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beste, out of thy stal!
Know thi contree, look up, thank God of al;
Hold the heye wey and lat thy gost thee lede,
And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.
Envoy
Therfore, thou Vache, leve thyn old wrechednesse;
Unto the world leve now to be thral.
Crye him mercy, that of his hy goodnesse
Made thee of noght, and in especial
Draw unto him, and pray in general
For thee, and eek for other, hevenlich mede;
And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede.
You can hear the Middle English read here (click the title link). Chaucer scholars don't seem to know much about this Chaucerian work; it's gnomic poetry, but is almost certainly good-humored ribbing as well, as can be seen by the play on the name of the addressee, Vache (cow). Paraphrased into Modern English, very quickly and roughly and crudely (improvements welcome):
Flee from the masses, dwell in truthfulness;
Let your belongings suffice, though they be small,
For greed is hateful, and ambition unstable,
The crowd is envious, and are blind overall.
Take delight no more than befits you,
restrain yourself who restrains others' deeds;
and truth shall deliver you, have no fear.
Trouble yourself not with making every crooked straight
in the trust of Fortune's turning wheel;
in little work the rest is great.
Beware therefore of kicking against the awl,
Do not fight like the jar fights the wall;
restrain yourself who restrains others' deeds,
and truth shall deliver you, have no fear.
What you are sent, submissively receive;
wrestling for this world gets you nothing at all.
This is not your home, this is but wilderness:
Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beast, out of your stall!
Stick to the high road, and let your spirit lead you,
And truth shall deliver you, have no fear.
Envoy
Therefore, O Vache, leave your old wretchedness;
Leave this world to which you are enthralled.
Cry mercy to Him, who of His goodness
Made you out of nothing, and especially
Draw unto him, and pray generally
For yourself, and for others', heavenly rewards;
And truth shall deliver you, have no fear.
