The devil can only destroy those who are already on their way to damnation.

So was hir jolly whistel wel y-wette.

By God, if women had written stories, As clerks had within here oratories, They would have written of men more wickedness Than all the mark of Adam may redress.

For tyme ylost may nought recovered be.

And when a beest is deed, he hath no peyne; But man after his deeth moot wepe and pleyne.

Make a virtue of necessity.

The lyf so short, the craft so long to lerne.