When Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke with us in human form, he said among
other things, that the tongue speaks from the fulness of the heart.
You who have gentle and noble hearts above other men, shape your minds
and your words to the pleasure of God, speaking of honouring and
fearing Our Lord who loved us even before He created us, and before we
ourselves loved Him. And if in certain ways we may, without giving Him
displeasure, speak for the gladdening of our bodies, and to give
ourselves aid and support, let it be done with all the grace and
courtesy that may be.
And since the noble and the gentle in their words and deeds are as a
mirror for the lower folks, for that their speech is more gracious,
coming from a more delicate instrument, let us call back to memory some
flowers of speech, such fair courtesies and fine replies, valiant
actions and noble gifts as have in time gone by been compassed by many.
So whosoever has a noble heart and fine intelligence may imitate in
time to come, and tell and make argument about them, when just occasion
offers, for the use and delight of such as know them not and fain would
know.
If the flowers of speech we offer you be mixed with other words, be not
displeased, for black is an ornament to gold, and a fair and delicate
fruit may sometimes adorn a whole orchard; a few lovely flowers an
entire garden.
Nor should the many readers who have lived long without scarcely
uttering a fine phrase or contributing anything of merit by their
speech take offence herein.