George MacDonald - England's Antiphon

The first stock-father of gentleness— ancestor of the race
What man desireth gentle for to be [of the gentle.
Must follow his trace, and all his wittés dress track, footsteps:
Virtue to love and vices for to flee; [apply.
For unto virtue longeth dignity, belongeth.
And not the reverse falsely dare I deem, 35 35 "And I dare not falsely judge the reverse."
All wear he mitre, crown, or diadem. although he wear.

The first stock was full of righteousness; the progenitor.
True of his word, sober, piteous, and free;
Clean of his ghost, and loved busi-ness, pure in his spirit.
Against the vice of sloth in honesty;

And but his heir love virtue as did he, except.
He is not gentle, though he rich seem,
All wear he mitre, crown, or diadem.

Vicesse may well be heir to old Richesse, Vice: Riches.
But there may no man, as men may well see,
Bequeath his heir his virtue's nobleness;
That is appropried unto no degree, rank.
But to the first father in majesty,
That maketh his heirés them that him queme, please him.
All wear he mitre, crown, or diadem.

I can come to no other conclusion than that by the first stock-father
Chaucer means our Lord Jesus.

By a way wandering as I went,
Well sore I sorrowed, for sighing sad;
Of hard haps that I had hent
Mourning me made almost mad; 37 37 "Mourning for mishaps that I had caught made me almost mad."

Till a letter all one me lad 38 38 "Led me all one:" "brought me back to peace, unity, harmony." (?) ,
That well was written on a wall,
A blissful word that on I rad 39 39 "That I read on (it)." ,
That alway said, 'Thank God for 40 40 Of in the original, as in the title. all.'

And yet I read furthermore 41 41 Does this mean by contemplation on it? —
Full good intent I took there till 42 42 "I paid good attention to it." :
Christ may well your state restore;
Nought is to strive against his will; it is useless.
He may us spare and also spill:
Think right well we be his thrall. slaves.
What sorrow we suffer, loud or still,
Alway thank God for all.

Though thou be both blind and lame,
Or any sickness be on thee set,
Thou think right well it is no shame— think thou.
The grace of God it hath thee gret 43 43 "Greeted thee"—in the very affliction. .
In sorrow or care though ye be knit, snared.
And worldés weal be from thee fall, fallen.
I cannot say thou mayst do bet, better.
But alway thank God for all.

Though thou wield this world's good,
And royally lead thy life in rest,
Well shaped of bone and blood,
None the like by east nor west;
Think God thee sent as him lest; as it pleased him.
Riches turneth as a ball;
In all manner it is the best in every condition.
Alway to thank God for all.

If thy good beginneth to pass,
And thou wax a poor man,
Take good comfort and bear good face,
And think on him that all good wan; did win.

Christ himself forsooth began—
He may renew both bower and hall:
No better counsel I ne kan am capable of.
But alway thank God for all.

Think on Job that was so rich;
He waxed poor from day to day;
His beastés died in each ditch;
His cattle vanished all away;
He was put in poor array,
Neither in purple nor in pall,
But in simple weed, as clerkes say, clothes: learned men.
And alway he thanked God for all.

For Christés love so do we; 44 44 "For Christ's love let us do the same."
He may both give and take;
In what mischief that we in be, whatever trouble we
He is mighty enough our sorrow to slake. [be in.
Full good amends he will us make,
And we to him cry or call: if.
What grief or woe that do thee thrall, 45 45 "Whatever grief or woe enslaves thee." But thrall is a blunder, for the word ought to have rhymed with make.
Yet alway thank God for all.

Though thou be in prison cast,
Or any distress men do thee bede, offer.
For Christés love yet be steadfast,
And ever have mind on thy creed;
Think he faileth us never at need,
The dearworth duke that deem us shall; 46 46 "The precious leader that shall judge us."
When thou art sorry, thereof take heed, 47 47 "When thou art in sorry plight, think of this."
And alway thank God for all.