Mannyng, Robert: Handlyng Synne (8 051 words)

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2

THE TALE OF THE TEMPTED MONK.


3

A TALE


4

5Hyt was onys a munke, and had a celle
6In a wyldernes, for to dwelle;
7Þys munke of relygyoun
8Had a grete temptacyoun;
9He was so temptyd with lecherye,
10He ȝede fro hys celle to seke folye;
11He dede hym sone to a cyte,
12In-to egypte, þat yche cuntre.
13And, as he cam yn a strete,
14with a womman he gan mete;
15Hys flesshe on here was so abeyted,
16Þat þyke womman he coueytyd.
17To here fadyr swyþe he ȝede,
18And asked here to haue yn dede.
19Here fadyr was prest of sarysyne;
20In maummetry he leued ynne.

21Þe prest seyd þe munke vn-to,

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22As my god wyl, so wyl y do.
23She shal noght to any be sette
24Withoutyn leue of my maumette.
25The munke seyd he graunted weyl
26Aftyr hys maumette to do euery deyl.

27Þe sarysyne to hys god ȝede,
28And askede cunseyl of swyche a dede,
29Ȝyf he were of þe munke payde,
30Or, þe ȝyfte shulde be delayde.'

31Þan answered hys termagaunt,
32"Ȝyue hym þy doghtyr on þys cunnaunt,
33Þat he forsake, quyte clene,
34God of heuene and hys bapteme,
35And alle þe godenesse of hys munkhede;
36þese þre forsake, mote he nede;
37And ȝyf he forsake hem apertly,
38Ȝyue hym þy douȝtyr hardely".

39Þys prest come to þe munke, & tolde
40what he seyd, and what he wolde;
41'And ȝyf he wolde forsake þese þre,
42Hys dougtyr shulde hys owne be.'

43She was so moche yn hys þoght;
44Had he here, he rouȝte of noghte.
45Alas! Ihesus he forsoke,
46And þe crystyndom þat he toke,
47And þe state of relygyoun,
48And chese hys Dampnacyun.

49Certys he dede grete outrage,
50To make þe deuyl so moche omage.

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51whan he had grauntede al hys folye,
52Out of hys mouþe he say flye
53A dowue vn-to þe fyrmament;
54Þe holy gost þan from hym went.

55Þe sarysyne wente to hys maumet,
56And tolde hym how þe munke had het:
57"Þese þre þynges he wyl forsake;
58Shal y, hym my douȝtyr take?
59Sey þou me þe certeyn of alle,
60wheþer y shal, or y ne shalle."
61Þe maumet answeryd hastyly,
62"Y warne þe for enchesoun why;
63Þogh he forsake hys god for euere,
64Hys god forsakeþ hym neuere,
65For he ys euer ful of pyte;
66Men clepyn hym god of cristianite;
67For ȝyf he wyl hym mercy craue,
68Redyly mercy shal he haue;
69Þouȝe he to-day fro hys god weyue,
70To-morwe hys god wyl hym receyue.
71Þarfor, y forbede þe weyl,
72Ne dele with hym neuer a deyl."

73Þe prest vnto þe munke went
74And seyd, "y haue commaundement
75Þat y ne shal dele with þe,
76Ne my doghtyr þy wyfe to be;
77For þy god ys of swych manere,
78Þogh þou forsake hym ryght now here,
79To-morwe mayst þou com aȝeyn,

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80And make with hym acorde certeyn;
81Þogh þou haue do neuer so ylle
82Ȝyt wyl he graunte þe hys gode wylle.
83My god me bad on none wyse
84To dele with þe, ne none of hyse."

85Þe munke rependyd hym þan, and þoght,
86"Alas!" he seyd, "what have y wroght
87Þat y shulde euer hym forsake
88Þat ys so redy me efte to take.
89Þy mercy, god, ys mochyl to telle;
90when y see a maumet of helle
91Þat neuer ȝyt loued þe,
92He spekyþ of þy mochyl pyte.
93Seþyn þou art so mylde and meke
94Þy mochyl mercy wyl y seke;
95Here y forsake þat y toke,
96To hym y me betake þat y forsoke."

97Seþyn he ȝede to an ermyte,
98And shrofe hym of hys synne astyte;
99And tolde hym þat he had y-doun,
100Forsaken god and hys relygyoun.
101þys forsayde ermyte ful sory was
102Þat he had do so grete trespas;
103Noþeles, he bad hym dwelle
104Þre wokys with hym yn his celle;
105For hys synne he shulde þan faste,
106And yn preyers wel to laste.

107þys yche munke þat was so madde,
108Dyde ryght as þe ermyte badde.
109þey preyden boþe þat seuenyȝt

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110To god, for hys mochel myȝt,
111þat he wulde haue of hym mercy;
112þus preyd þey boþe specyaly.

113At þe fyrste seuenyȝt ende,
114þe ermyte seyd, "broþer hende,
115Hast þou any grace see
116Yn þy preyers as þou hast be?"
117"ȝe," he seyde, "y sagh a syght
118Yn þe lykenes of a dowues flyght,
119Aboue me yn þe firmament,
120Of þat dowue þat fro me went."
121Þe ermyte þoght þan astyte
122Þat hyt was þe same spyryte
123Þat went from hym when he began
124God forsake for þat womman.

125To gret penaunce eft he hym toke
126For hys cristyndom þat he forsoke;
127Ȝyt a woke he badde hym faste
128For his flessh þat hym downe caste,
129þat no more þurghe lecherye
130He fordo hys grace so gretly.

131Þys ermyte preyed nyght and day
132þat hys penaunce were take to pay.
133whan þey had preyde day & nyght
134Alle þat woke yn goddys syght,
135Þys ermyte seyd, "benedicite;
136Broþer," he seyd, "how þenkeþ þe?"
137"weyl," he seyd, "þurgh goddys grace,
138Þe dowue haþ be byfore my face,
139And, a whyle, stylle by me stode;
140Þe syght þere-of dyde me gode."

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141"Þat ys weyl, wyþ goddys wylle,
142Dwelle ȝyt with me a woke stylle,
143And be yn þyn afflyccyouns,
144Yn fastyng and yn orysouns:
145And y. shal prey also with þe
146Þat god boþe here me and þe."

147Stedfastlych þey preyd a-none
148Tyl þat woke were alle gone.
149At þe woke ende, spake þe ermyte
150And asked þe munke of þe spyryte.
151Þe munke seyde, "y haue hyt seyn,
152And on my hede syttyn and beyn;
153y sagh hyt so mylde and spake,
154Þat with my hande y myght hyt take;
155Me þoght hyt was þat fro me steye,
156Aȝeyn yn-to my mouþe hyt fleye."
157Þe ermyte þanked god almyght
158Þat ȝafe hym grace to see þat syȝt.
159"Now art þou clene," he seyde, "of synne,
160þe holy goste ys þe withynne:
161kepe þe now fro swych a kas,
162Aȝen god no more to trespas."

163By þys ensample may ȝe see
164Þat god ys euer ful of pyte;
165Þogh a man hym onys forsake,
166Eft wyl god aȝen hym take
167Ȝyf he with herte wyl mercy crye
168And do penaunce for hys folye.
169Blessed be he among vs here,
170Þat he loueþ vs alle so dere.

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171Go we now fyrþer on oure pas
172And telle more of oure trespas.

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173

THE TALE OF THE ADULTEROUS WIFE,
174WHOSE SKELETON SPLIT IN TWO.


175

176Þer ys an Ile be-ȝunde þe see,
177Þer men were wunt wonyng to be;
178Þys yche yle wax al waste,
179And þe folk drogh þen yn haste;
180So with-ynne a lytyl whyle
181Men helde hyt a forsakyn yle.
182Seþþe, wonede þere a dragun,
183Þat dede many man confusyun;
184Men and wommen faste he slogh,
185And dede ouer al shame ynogh;
186Al þat he fonde with-oute house
187Þys dragun slogh so merueylouse;
188So moche folke gan he quelle,
189Men seyd he was a fende of helle.
190Alle þe folk of þat cuntre
191Cunseyled hem what þat myght be;
192Þey armyde hem alle at here myght,
193Aȝens þe dragun for to fyght,
194But noun of hem myght vndyrstande
195Where þe dragun was wonande.
196Befel ȝyt, þat yche tyde,
197An ermyte wonede þere besyde,
198A gode man and ryȝt certeyn,
199Dwelled besyde þat wasteyn, -

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200One of hem ȝaf cunseyl tyte,
201Þat þey shulde go to þat Ermyte,
202And aske cunseyl of swyche a dede
203In hope alle þe bettyr to spede.
204whan þey hadde tolde hym alle here dere,
205Þys was þan þe ermytys answere: -
206"Ȝyf ȝe wyl wepe for ȝoure synne,
207And shryue ȝow clene, and þerof blynne,
208And graunte me þat ȝe shul faste,
209And yn preyers wel to laste,
210Perauenture ȝe may be al-eggyd,
211And sum of ȝoure sorow abreggyd."

212To do alle þat þe ermyte bad,
213Þey grauntede alle, & were ryȝt glad.
214Þe ermyte seyde, "ȝe shul be
215In penaunce þre days with me;
216And, aftyr þe þre days ende,
217To ȝow shal y come or sende."

218Alle þe folk went home þere weye;
219Þe ermyte hys preyere began to seye,
220"Ihesu cryst, god almyghty,
221Of þys folk haue þou mercy,
222Þat þou boghtyst on rode so dere;
223For hem shewe me on sum manere
224where y may þe dragun fynde,
225And hys power, lorde, þou bynde,
226Þat þe folk may knowe and se
227Þe mercy and þe myȝt of þe."

228Whan he hadde preyde hys orysun
229Long yn grete afflyccyun,

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230God sagh alle hys entent,
231And hys aungel to hym he sent
232For to teche hym þe way
233Þedyr þere þe dragun lay.
234Þe aungel seyde to þe ermyte,
235"Do sumne þe folk astyte,
236Þat þey come alle hedyr
237Before þe, echone to gedyr.
238Y shal be ȝoure alþer ledere,
239Þat þe dragun ȝow nat dere."

240Þe folk echone þedyr com;
241Þe aungel before hem gan gon,
242And led hem to þat wasteyn
243Þat sum tyme was a stede certeyn.
244Vnto a place þey ȝede echone,
245And þere þey fonde a tumbe of stone.
246Þe aungel bad hem lyfte vp þe lydde;
247And as he bad, ryȝt so þey dydde.
248"here, he seyde, ys hys wonnyng
249with anoþer wykked þyng;
250Drede ȝow noght þoȝt he be fownde,
251For all hys power haue y bownde."
252whan þey had þe toumbe o twynne,
253Þe folk stode and loked with-ynne.
254Þey sagh a womman þere vyly lye,
255And here body cloue yn twey partye;
256Betwyxe þo twey partys þe dragun lay,
257Gresly to se grete affray.

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258Grete wndyr was hyt to see;
259Þey asked alle what hyt myȝt be,
260And why hyt was, and where-fore,
261Þat þe dragun lay so þore;
262And what manere she synned so,
263Þat here body was cloue yn two.

264he shewede þan vnto hem alle,
265For what synne þat sorow gan falle.
266"Þys womman," he seyd, "þat here lys,
267And ys departyd yn two partys,
268She was weddyd, and here wedlak
269Ful falsly an on-truly brak,
270whan she was o flessh and blode
271with hym þat here to-keyn loue gode;
272þurgh matrymony, þe sacrament,
273were two o flessh made be assent,
274holy togedyr for to leue
275And noun fro ouþer hys flesh may ȝyue.
276But þys womman þat þus ys shent,
277She brak þe holy sacrament;
278here flesh she ȝaf, o party
279yn hordam and yn lechery,
280A-noþer party to here husbonde,
281Þat for shame ne myȝt she wonde.
282And, for þat yche vyleyns synne,
283Ys here body partyd a-twynne;
284And betwyx þe twey partys,
285For veniaunce, þe dragun lys.
286Alas þe tyme þat she was bore!
287with-outyn ende she ys lore."

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288Þe aungel seyd, "y comaunde þe,
289Dragun, henne þat þou fle,
290þat þou neuer any man noye
291No þys cuntre no more dystroye;
292No þat þou come no more here
293yn þys stede for to apere."
294And a-none, for drede and eye,
295Þe dragun fleygh furþ hys weye.
296Þe folk þanked god echone,
297Þat þe dragun aweye was gone.

298wommen þat breke wedlak, mow yn þys tale
299Here, þat þey brew to hemself bale.
300For þe foule dragun, þe fende of helle,
301wyþ hem yn peyne shal euer dwelle
302þat half here flesh haue partyd or brokun
303Þat holy yn matrymony was lokun.

304Ȝyf þer be twey yn cumpany
305As beþ yn wedlak specyaly,
306And þe toon do aȝens spousayle
307wherefore felaushepe may fayle,
308But þe toþer wyl hym blame
309whan he wote hys foule fame,
310he consentyþ to hys synne
311But he desturble hym þer-ynne.

312Ȝyf þou wendest oute of cuntre,
313Aȝens þy wyuys wyl to be,
314But she mow wone yn þat stede

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315To haue þy fleshly felawrede,
316Ȝyf þou do hyt aȝens her wyl
317Certeynly þou synnyst ful yl.
318Ȝyf þou hyt do to holde þe chaste
319wyþ-oute here wyl, þou werchyst waste.
320For but hyt be for grete resun,
321Ȝyf she mysdo, þou art enchesun.

322Ȝyf þou louyst to haue þy wyfe
323Yn clennes and yn gode lyfe,
324vpbreyde here neuer for gelusye
325Of no mannys cumpanye;
326For ȝyf þou dost, þan wyl she do
327þyng þat she neuer þoghte to do.
328Men sey, þer a man ys gelous,
329Þat þer ys a kokewolde at hous.
330Many a gode man ys kokewolde;
331Þere þe wyfe ys a shrewe, þer ys wykked holde.
332But where þe wyfe haþ gelousye
333Þere beþ wrdys grete and hye;
334here mayster shal nagher go ne sytte
335Þat she ne shal wommen on hym wytte.
336Þan ys þere chydyng and boste,
337Þere ys nat þe holy goste;
338For no þyng Ihesu cryst more quemeþ
339Þan loue yn wedlak, þere men hyt ȝemyþ;
340Ne no þyng ys to man so dere
341As wommanys loue yn gode manere.
342A gode womman ys mannys blys
343Þere here loue ryȝt and stedfast ys;

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344Þere ys no solas vndyr heuene
345Of al þat a man may neuene,
346Þat shuld a man so moche glew
347As a gode womman þat loueþ trew.
348Ne derer ys none yn goddys hurde
349Þan a chaste womman with louely wrde;
350Ensample haue y þerof ful fayre
351yn þe lyfe of seynt Makayre.

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352

THE TALE OF THE KNIGHT AND
353MONK WHO LOVD NEW FASHIONS.


354

355Þer was a knyȝt þat loued nouelrye,
356As many one haunte now þat folye;

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357he dede to make, yn þe somers tyde,
358A kote perced queyntly with pryde;
359And God was nat þer-of payd,
360For yn hys pryde he was betrayd.

361Þys knyȝt ȝede, vpp-on a day,
362Aboute roberye, to gete hys pray;
363Homward as he hys pray ledde
364with hys enmys he was bestedde;
365with fors þey gun with hym fyght,
366And slogh þere þys yche knyȝt.
367Þe knyȝtys frendys herde seye
368how he was slayn by þe weye;
369Ful feyre þan gun þey for hym werche,
370Þey byryed þe body feyre at þe cherche;
371hys frendys departed hys katel
372Among þe pore men, and þat was wel.
373whan þey come at þe kote gysyng,
374To dele hyt among hys ouþer þyng,
375Before þe pore men hyt was broght;
376Þe pore men seyd þey wulde hyt noȝt.
377A clerk stode þo þere be syde,
378And, prayd for þe kote of pryde.
379To werne hyt hym, þey þoght loþe;
380Þey toke and ȝaue þys clerk þe cloþe.
381Þys clerk was glad whan he hyt hadde;
382Þys kote asswyþe on hym he cladde.

383Se now here a grete myschaunce
384Come ryȝt as for veniaunce:
385Ryȝt as he was yn þe kote al dyght,
386A fyre brennyng on hym gan lyght,
387And brend hys body dounne to þe grounde
388whylys oght of hym myȝt be founde.

389Þer shewed God weyl by þat kas

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390Þat þe kote a-cursed was,
391And tokened wel sorowe and wrake,
392Þat none pore man wulde hyt take
393For pryde of þe newe gyse
394Aȝens crystyn mennys wyse;
395But þe clerk was wode al gate
396To were a cloþe aȝens hys state.
397here mow ȝe se þat god ys wroth
398with hem þat dysgyse here cloþe.

399And a clerk ys moche for to blame
400Þat bryngyþ hym self yn foule fame,
401Clerk ordeyned yn dignyte
402Þat haunteþ swyche Iolyte;
403Noþeles, of þe newe gyse
404Þe deuyl haþ made hymself chefe iustyse;
405And ȝyf he yn folye begynne to stoute,
406Þan bereþ he þe deuylys baner aboute;
407Moche folk ys þerwyþ blent;
408God do þerof amendment.

409Ȝyf þou haue grete desyre
410To be clepyd lorde or syre,
411For to glose þe, and slyppe,
412And to haue þe wurdys of wurschyp;
413Or ȝe wymmen also, comunly,
414wulde be kallede 'madame' or 'lady;'
415Al þys comþ of grete pryde;
416yn þy shryfte þou noght hyt hyde.
417he ys ryȝt lorde, þe kyng of heuene;
418wrong hyt ys þat men any oþer neuene.

419Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn grete meyne,
420For men shulde haue drede of þe,
421And for þy meyne wuldyst preysed be,
422ȝyf harme to oþer þan do þat meyne,
423Þou for þy meyne shalt dampned be
424Ȝyf þou to euyl vowe þy meyne.

425Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn grete hallys,

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426Yn a foule pryde þan þou fallys;
427For y se many þat nowe þey bygge,
428And now sone, dede þey lygge.
429y sey for þo þat haue grete pryde
430yn hygh hallys and yn wyde.
431Ȝyf þou delyte þe yn ryche beddyng,
432yn hors, yn harneys, or yn feyre rydyng,
433Alle ys pryde and vanyte;
434Of al shalt þou a-couped be.

435Y seyd langere, yn gode cunnaunt,
436Euery man haue to hys auenaunt,
437Cytes, tounnes, castellys, and hallys,
438hors, armour, and þat þar to fallys;
439But, yn al þat moche þrong,
440Do holy cherche, ne pore man, wrong.

441what sey ȝe men of ladyys pryde
442Þat gone traylyng ouer syde:
443Ȝyf a lady were ryghtly shreue,
444Better hyt were yn almes ȝeue;
445To soule helpe hyt myȝt do bote,
446Þat trayleþ lowe vndyr þe fote.
447wymples, kerchyues, saffrund betyde;
448Ȝelugh vnder ȝelugh þey hyde;
449Þan wete men neuer, wheþer ys wheþer,
450þe ȝelugh wymple or þe leþer.

451wymmen þat go fro strete to strete,
452One or ouþer for to mete,
453Of pryde comþ swyche desyre,

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454For þey haue on hem feyre atyre:
455But she wul to þe prest þat telle,
456She may þerfore go to helle;
457For yn as moche þat she douþ men synne,
458yn so moche shal she haue plyght ynne.

459And, wymmen, y seye of þo
460Þat borwe cloþes yn carol to go;
461Þat pore pryde, god hyt loþes,
462Þat make hem proude of ouþer mennys cloþys.

463Ȝyf þou hast spoke wurdys of pryde,
464And lettyst ouþer men any tyde
465Of here bedys and of here fastyng,
466Or of any ouþer holy þyng,
467Or of any ouþer gode dede,
468to telle hyt þe prest, behoueþ þe nede.

469Ȝyf þou euer lette began
470Þat was wurshep to god or man,
471As yn cherche to synge or rede,
472Or of sum oþer holy dede;
473Or also for boste or for pryde,
474with prest or with clerk to chyde,
475Þurgh þat pryde þou fallyst yn synne,
476And cursednes þerwith to wynne.

477Also þat clerk ys moche to blame
478Þat letteþ to shaue hys krowne for shame;
479Y rede þat he yn tyme hyt shaue,
480For he wote neuer what nede he shal þerto haue.

481Ȝyf þou yn ernest, or yn game,
482yn scorne blessedyst Goddys name;
483Or ȝyf þou were so wundyrly proude
484Þat þou mysseydyst God al aloude,
485For any chaunce þat may betyde
486Skorne nat God, ne wyþ hym chyde:

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487More pryde, no more synne,
488Þan skorne god, mayst þou falle ynne.

489Ȝyf þou grucchedest, and seydyst noght,
490But to God haddyst euyl þoght,
491wete þou wel, hyt ys grete pryde,
492Grucchyng with God, or for to chyde.

493Ȝyf a man haue mysdo or seyde,
494And men hym blame for þat mysbreyde,
495Ȝyf he susteyne hys mysdede,
496And hys mysawe wyl nat drede,
497Þat cumþ of mysprout herte and hy
498Þat wyl nat knowe hys owne foly.
499Of al folyys þat beryn name,
500Þys foly ys moste for to blame;
501who-so-euer to þys ys custummable,
502hys amendment may neuer be stable.

503what sey men of þese loseniours
504Þat haue here wurdys feyre as flours?
505Now ys þe floure whyte and rede,
506And now hyt ys boþe drye and dede.
507Þe losenioure spekþ now þy pay,
508And behynde þy bak hyt ys away.
509Þere one haþ smylyng semelaunt
510And behetyþ þe to holde cunnaunt,
511kepe þe þan fro losengrye,
512For feyre spekyng man kan weyl lye.
513who-so-euer ys custummable to banne
514For pryde, sum tyme or whanne,
515Þe apostyl seyþ þat he may noght
516Vn-to þe blysse of heuene be broght.

517A-noþer spyce hyt ys of pryde,
518who so haunteþ for to chyde.
519For holy cherche forbedeþ þe
520To chyde wyþ any of þy meyne.
521Teche hym ferst, yn feyre manere;

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522And ȝyf he wyl nat with feyre lere,
523Þan mayst þou speke stoutly to hym,
524with-oute wraþþe, wurdys ful grym,
525Þat he be chasted at þy fre wylle,
526But þat þou bere yn herte none ylle.
527Chydyng cumþ of herte hy,
528And grete pryde, and vylany.

529A-nouþer spyce þer ys þat moche deres,
530Þat ys, þese cursed bakbyteres.
531Of al men, þey do most euyl,
532here lorefadyr ys þe deuyl.
533Þe fende vs bewreyeþ of oure synne
534whan he haþ made vs fal þer-ynne.
535So are þese bakbyters wunne,
536Þey seye þe werst þat þey kunne;
537Euer behynde a mannys bak,
538with euyl þey fynde hym to lak.
539Swyche men god almyȝty hatys
540And with here foule synne hym wlatys.
541Seynt Austyn spekyþ of swyche þynges
542yn a boke of lesyngys.
543No custummable bakbytyng
544God forȝeueþ, ne no lesyng,
545Þat þou þarfore shalt algate drye
546Sum manere peyne for euery lye;
547As þe lesyng ys lesse or more,
548Shalt þou suffre peyne þar-fore.
549And þat may weyl preuyd be
550with a tale of an autoryte,
551Þat moche peyne shal he bere
552wyþ-oute ende, þe bakbytere;
553And y shal telle ȝou a lyte
554Of one þat coude hys felaus byte.

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555

A TALE OF BISHOP ST. ROBERT
556GROSTEST OF LINCOLN, AND WHY
557HE LOVD MUSIC.


558

559Y shall ȝow telle, as y haue herd,
560Of þe bysshope Seynt Roberd;
561Hys toname ys 'Grostest
562Of Lynkolne', so seyþ þe gest.
563he loued moche to here þe harpe,
564For mannys wytte hyt makyþ sharpe;
565Next hys chaumbre, besyde hys stody,
566Hys harpers chaumbre was fast þerby.
567Many tymes, be nyȝtys and dayys,
568He had solace of notes and layys.
569One asked hym onys, resun why
570he hadde delyte yn mynstralsy:
571he answerede hym on þys manere,
572why he helde þe harper so dere,
573"Þe vertu of þe harpe, þurgh skylle & ryȝt,
574wyl destroye þe fendes myȝt,
575And to þe croys by gode skylle
576Ys þe harpe lykened weyle.

577Anoþer poynt cumforteþ me,
578Þat God haþ sent vnto a tre
579So moche ioye to here with eere;
580Moche þan more ioye ys þere
581with God hym-selfe, þere he wonys;
582Þe harpe þerof me ofte mones;
583Of þe ioye and of þe blys
584where God hym-self wonys and ys.
585Þare-for, gode men, ȝe shul lere,
586whan ȝe any glemen here,
587To wurschep God at ȝoure powere,
588As Dauyd seyþ yn þe sautere,
589"yn harpe, yn thabour, and symphan gle,
590wurschepe God, yn troumpes, and sautre,

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591yn cordys, an organes, and bellys ryngyng,
592yn al þese, wurschepe ȝe heuene kyng."
593Ȝyf ȝe do þus, y sey hardly,
594Ȝe mow here ȝoure mynstralsy.

595Ȝyf þou lygge long yn synne,
596And wylt nat ryse, ne þerof blynne,
597Certeynly, for euery oure
598Þou shalt ȝelde a-counte ful soure;
599For euery oure þat þou þeryn lay
600Yn purgatorye þou gest þy pay.
601Hyt ys sloghnes, and kalled 'accyde,'
602Fro Goddys seruyse so long þe hyde.

603And some, alle þe ȝere wyllyn abyde
604Of shryfte tyl þe lentyn tyde;
605And nygh tyl lentyn be al gone
606Mede for fastyng gete þey none;
607Þat ys, for sloghnes þey wyl nat ryse;
608lyggyng yn synne, ys lore seruyse.

609And, sum men, yn alle here lyue,
610Clenly ne wyle þey hem shryue;
611For þey synne alle yn hope of grace,
612At here endyng wene þey haue space;
613þan þenke þey to shryneshryue hem clene:
614To swyche men,God, God sheweþ hys tene.
615Hyt ys seyd al day, for þys skyl,
616"he þat wyl nat whan he may,
617He shal nat, when he wyl, haue pay ."
618And þer byþ many one ful euyl to wynne
619To any godenes fro vyle synne;
620Euyl tokyn hyt ys of swyche a man,
621God hym deme; for y ne kan.

622And þyr are ouþer þat mys dous,
623As a best, for defaute þat goþ lous.
624But whan men teche hem þe wey,
625And þey wyl do as men hem sey;

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626A tokyn hyt ys, þey shul haue grace
627To come to God, and haue space.
628And he may hope of euyl endyng
629Þat none may to Gode brynge.

630A slogh messagere, hys wylland,
631Þat charged ys wyþ lordes erand,
632Ȝyf he go nat as he ys sent,
633He ys wurþy to be shent.
634Man þat wel spedyþ hym yn dede,
635And messager smart at nede,
636Þey shul stonde byfore þe kyng,
637And haue mede to here askyng.

638A persone ys slogh yn holy cherche
639Þat on hys shepe wyl nat werche
640How þey shul hem-selfe ȝeme,
641And God and holy cherche to queme.
642Þe hyghe shepard shal hym blame,
643how he lateþ hem go to shame.

644Ȝyf he se yn any þyng
645Þat þey haue defaute of chastysyng,
646But he teche hem and chastyse so
647Þat þey forward better do,
648For hem he shal, at þe assyse,
649Be ponysshed before þe hygh Iustyse.
650Also behoueþ hym, for hem pray,
651Þat God, of grace, wysse hem þe wey.

652Ȝyf any of hem defaute has,
653And he may helpe hem yn þat kas,
654And wyl nat, for vnkyndhede,
655But late hem perysshe þer for nede,
656Ful harde a-counte shal he ȝelde
657Þat he myȝt helpe whan he ne welde.
658Ȝyf he kyndly vndyrstode,
659Of hem he haþ al hys gode;

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660For, God seyþ yn þe gospel þys,
661Vpbreydyng hem when þey do mys:
662Þe mylke, þe wulle, þey wyl receyue;
663And syþþen þe shepe þey wyle late weyue.
664Holy wryte swyche men holdes
665As wylde wulues brekyng foldes.
666Swyche a persone ys ful slogh,
667Be he hygh, or be he logh.

668Man or womman þat haþ a chylde
669Þat wyþ vnþewys wexyþ wylde,
670Þat wyl boþe myssey and do
671Chastysment behoueþ þarto;
672But ȝe hem chastyse at ȝoure myȝt,
673Ȝe falle, ellys, for hem yn plyȝt.
674Better were þe chylde vnbore
675Þan fayle chastysyng, and syþþen lore.
676Þus seyth þe wys kyng Salamonn
677To men and wymmen euerychonn,
678"wyle ȝe þat ȝoure chyldryn be a-ferd,
679Ȝyueþ hem þe smert ende of þe ȝerde;"
680And techeþ hem gode þewys echone;
681Ȝyt dur ȝow breke hem no bone.

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682

THE TALE OF PERS THE USURER.


683

684Seynt Ioun þe aumenere
685Seyþ Pers was an okerere,
686And was swyþe coueytous,
687And a nygun and auarous,
688And gadred pens vnto store
689As okerers doun aywhore.

690Befyl hyt so, vp-on a day
691Þat pore men sate yn þe way,
692And spred here hatren on here barme
693Aȝens þe sonne þat was warme,
694And rekened þe custome houses echoun,
695At whych þey had gode, and at whyche noun;
696Þere þey hadde gode, þey preysed weyl,
697And þere þey hadde noght, neuer a deyl.

698As þey spak of many what,
699Come Pers forþ yn þat gat:
700Þan seyd echoun þat sate and stode,
701'here comþ Pers, þat neuer dyd gode!'
702Echoun seyd to oþer Iangland,
703'Þey toke neuer gode at Pers hand;
704Ne noun pore man neuer shal haue,
705Coude he neuer so weyl craue.'

706One of hem began to sey
707"A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley,
708Þat y shal haue sum gode at hym,
709Be he neuer so gryl ne grym."
710To þat waiour þey graunted alle,
711To ȝyue hym a ȝyft ȝyf so myȝt befalle.

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712Þys man vp sterte, and toke þe gate,
713Tyl he com, at Pers ȝate.
714As he stode stylle, and bode þe quede,
715One come with an asse charged with brede;
716Þat yche brede Pers hade boght,
717And to hys hous shuld hyt be broght.
718He sagh Pers come þerwith-alle;
719Þe pore þoght 'now aske y shal.'
720"Y aske þe sum gode, pur charytepur charyte,
721Pers, ȝyf þy wyl be."

722Pers stode, and loked on hym
723Felunlyche with yȝen grym.
724He stouped down to seke a stone,
725But, as hap was, þan fonde he none.
726For þe stone he toke a lofe,
727And at þe pore man hyf drofe.
728Þe pore man hente hyt vp belyue,
729And was þerof ful ferly blyþe.
730To hys felaws faste he ran
731with þe lofe, þys pore man,
732"lo," he seyde, "what y haue
733Of Pers ȝyft, so God me saue!"
734Nay, þey swore by here þryft,
735Pers ȝaue neuer swych a ȝyft.
736he seyd, "ȝe shul weyl vndyrstonde
737Þat y hyt had, at Pers honde;
738Þat dar y swere on þe halydom
739Here before ȝow echoun."
740Grete merueyle had þey alle,
741Þat swych a chaunce myȝt hym befalle.

742Þe þrydde day, þysþus wryte hyt ys,
743Pers fyl yn a grete syknes;
744And, as he lay yn hys bedde,
745Hym þoght weyl, þat he was ledde

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746with one þat aftyr hym was sent,
747To come vn-to hys Iugement.

748Before þe Iuge was he broght
749To ȝelde acounte how he hadde wroght.
750Pers stode ful sore a-drad,
751And, was abashed as mad;
752He sagh a fende on þe to party,
753Bewreyyng hym ful felunly;
754Alle hyt was shewed hym before,
755how he had lyued syn he wos bore;
756And namely euery wykked dede
757Syn fyrst he coude hym self lede;
758why he hem dyd, and for what chesun,
759Of alle behoueþ hym to ȝelde a resoun.

760On þe touþer party stode men ful bryȝt,
761Þat wulde haue saued hym at here myȝt;
762But þey myght no gode fynde
763Þat myȝt hym saue or vnbynde.
764Þe feyre men seyd "what ys to rede?
765Of hym fynde we no gode dede
766þat God ys payd of, but of a lofe
767Þe whych Pers at þe pore man drofe:
768ȝyt ȝaue he hyt with no gode wylle,
769But kast hyt aftyr hym with ylle;
770For Goddys loue ȝaue he hyt noȝt,
771Ne for almes dede he hyt had þoght.
772Noþeles, þe pore man
773Had þe lofe of Pers þan."

774Þe fende had leyd yn balaunce
775Hys wykkede dedes and hys myschaunce;
776Þey leyd þe lofe aȝens hys dedys, -
777Þey had noȝt elles, þey mote nedys -
778Þe holy man telleþ vs, and seys,
779Þat þe lofe made euen peys.

780Þan seyd þese feyre men to Pers,

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781"ȝyf þou be wys, now þou leres
782How þys lofe þe helpeþ at nede
783To tylle þy soule with almes dede."

784Pers, of hys slepe gan blynke,
785And gretly on hys dreme gan þynke -
786Syghyng with mornyng chere,
787As man þat was yn grete were, -
788How þat he acouped was
789with fendes fele for hys trespas,
790And how þey wulde haue dampned hym þere,
791Ȝyf mercy of Ihesu Cryst ne were.

792Alle þys yn hys herte he kast,
793And to hym self he spak at þe laste,
794"Þat, for a lofe yn eueyl wylle
795Halpe me yn so grete perel,
796Moche wlde hyt helpe at nede,
797with gode wyl do almes dede."

798Fro þat tyme þan wax Pers
799A man of so feyre maners,
800Þat no man myȝt yn hym fynde,
801But to þe pore boþe meke and kynde;
802A mylder man ne myȝt nat be,
803Ne to þe pore, more of almes fre;
804And reuful of herte also he was,
805Þat mayst þou here lere yn þys pas.

806Pers mette, vp-on a day,
807A pore man, by þe way,
808As naked as he was bore,
809Þat yn þe see had alle lore.
810He come to Pers, þere he stode,
811And asked hym sum of hys gode, -
812Sumwhat of hys cloþyng, -
813For þe loue of heuene kyng.
814Pers, was of reuful herte,

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815He toke hys kyrtyl of, as smert,
816And ded hyt on þe man aboue,
817And bad hym were hyt for hys loue.

818Þe man hyt toke, and was ful blyþe;
819He ȝede and solde hyt asswyþe.
820Pers stode and dyd beholde
821How þe man þe kyrtyl solde,
822And was þarwith ferly wroþe
823Þat he solde so sone hys cloþe;
824He myȝt no lenger for sorow stande,
825but ȝede home ful sore gretand,
826And seyd, 'hyt was an euyl sygne,
827And þat hym self was nat dygne
828For to be yn hys preyere,
829Þerfor nolde he þe kyrtyl were.'

830Whan he hadde ful long grete,
831And a party þerof began lete; -
832For, comunlych aftyr wepe,
833Fal men sone on slepe, -
834As Pers lay yn hys slepyng,
835Hym þoght a feyre sweuenyng.
836Hym þoght he was yn heuene lyȝt,
837And of God he had a syght,
838Syttyng yn hys kyrtyl clad
839Þat þe pore man of hym had,
840And spak to hym ful myldely,
841"why wepest þou, and art sory?
842Lo, Pers," he sayde, "þys ys þy cloth.
843For he solde hyt, were þou wroth;
844Know hyt weyl, ȝyf þat þou kan,
845For me þou ȝaue hyt þe pore man.
846Þat þou ȝaue hym yn charyte,
847Euery deyl þou ȝaue hyt me."

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848Pers of slepe oute breyde,
849And þoght grete wunder, & seþen seyd,
850"Blessyd be alle pore men,
851For God almyȝty loueþ hem;
852And weyl ys hem þat pore are here;
853Þey are with God, boþe lefe and dere;
854And y shal fonde, by nyȝt and day,
855To be pore, ȝyf þat y may."

856Hastly he toke hys kateyl,
857And ȝaue hyt to pore men echedeyl.
858Pers kalled to hym hys clerk
859Þat was hys notarye, and bade hym herk,
860"Y shal þe shewe a pryuyte,
861A þyng þat þou shalt do to me;
862y wyl þat þou no man hyt telle;
863My body y take þe here to selle
864To sum man, as yn bondage,
865To lyue in pouert and yn seruage;
866But þou do þus, y wyl be wroth,
867And þou and þyne shal be me loth.
868Ȝyf þou do hyt, y shal þe ȝyue
869Ten pownd of gold, wel with to lyue;
870Þo ten pownd y take þe here,
871And me to selle on bonde manere;
872Y ne recche vn-to whom,
873But onlych he haue þe crystendom;
874Þe raunsun þat þou shalt for me take,
875Þarfore þou shalt sykernes make,
876For to ȝyue hyt bleþely and weyl
877To pore men, euery deyl,
878And withholde þerof no þyng,
879Þe mountouns of a ferþyng."

880hys clerk was wo to do þat dede,

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881But only for manas and for drede.
882For drede Pers made hym hyt do,
883And dede hym plyghte his trouthe þer-to.

884Whan hys clerk had made hys othe,
885Pers dede on hym a foule clothe;
886Vnto a cherche boþe þey ȝede
887For to fulfylle hys wyl yn dede.
888whan þat þey to þe cherche com,
889"Lorde, þoght þe clerk, now whom
890Myȝt y fynde, þys yche sele,
891To whom y myȝt selle Pers wele!"

892Þe clerk loked euery where,
893And at þe last, he knew where;
894A ryche man þat er had be
895Specyal knowlych euer betwe,
896But þurgh myschaunce at a kas
897Alle hys gode y-lore was;
898'Ȝole,' þus þat man hyghte,
899And knew þe clerk wel be syghte.

900Þey spak of olde a-queyntaunce,
901And ȝole tolde hym of hys chaunce.
902"Ȝe," seyde þe clerk, "y rede þou bye
903A man to do þy marchaundye,
904Þat þou mayst holde yn seruage
905To restore weyl þyn dammage."

906Þan seyde ȝole, "on swych chaffare
907wulde y feyn my syluer ware."
908Þe clerke seyd, "lo, one here,
909A trew man an a dubonure,
910Þat wyl serue þe to pay,
911Peyneble, al þat he may.
912'Pers,' shalt þou calle hys name;
913For hym shalt þou haue moche frame.
914he ys a man ful gracyous,
915Gode to wynne vn-to þyn hous,
916And God shal ȝyue þe hys blessyng,

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917And foysyn, yn alle þyng."

918Þe clerk ȝaue alle hys raunsun
919To þe pore men of þe toun,
920Plenerly, alle þat he toke,
921wyþhelde he nat a ferþyng noke.

922Þe Emperoure sent hys messageres
923alle aboute for to seke Pers,
924But þey ne myȝt neuer here
925Of ryche Pers, þe tollere,
926yn what stede he was nome,
927No whydyrward he was become;
928No þe clerk wuld telle to none,
929whydyrward þat Pers was gone.

930Now ys Pers bycome bryche,
931Þat er was boþe stoute and ryche.
932Alle þat euer any man hym do bade,
933Pers dyd hyt with herte glad.
934he wax so mylde and so meke,
935A mylder man þurt no man seke;
936For he meked hym self ouer skyle,
937Pottes and dysshes for to swele.
938To grete penaunce he gan hym take,
939And moche for to fast and wake,
940And moche he loued þolmodnesse
941To ryche, to pore, to more, to lesse.
942Of alle men he wuld haue doute,
943And to here byddyng mekly loute;
944wulde þey bydde hym sytte or stande,
945Euer he wulde be bowande;
946And for he bare hym so meke and softe,
947Shrewes mysded hym ful ofte,
948And helde hym folted or wode,
949For he was so mylde of mode.
950And þey þat were hys felaus
951Mysseyd hym most yn here sawes;
952And alle he suffred her vpbreyd,

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953And neuer naght aȝens hem seyde.

954Ȝole, hys lorde, wel vndyrstode
955Þat al hys grace and hys gode
956Com for þe loue of Pers,
957Þat was of so holy maners;
958And whan he wyst of hys bounte,
959He called Pers yn pryuyte,
960"Pers," he seyd, "þou were wurþy
961For to be wurscheped more þan y,
962For þou art weyl with Ihesu;
963He sheweþ for þe grete vertu;
964Þarfor y shal make þe fre;
965Y wyl þat my felaw þou be."

966Þar-to Pers granted noght,
967To be freman, as he besoght:
968he wulde be, as he was ore,
969yn þat seruage for euermore.
970he þanked þe lorde myldely
971For hys grete curteysy.

972Syþþen Ihesu, þurgh hys myȝt,
973Shewed hym, to Pers syȝt,
974For to be stalworþe yn hys fondyng,
975And to hym haue loue longyng.
976"Be nat sorowful to do penaunce;
977y am with þe yn euery chaunce;
978Pers, I haue mynde of þe;
979lo, here þe kyrtyl þat þou ȝaue for me;
980Þerfor grace y shal þe sende,
981Yn alle godenesse weyl to ende."

982Byfyl þat seriauntes and squyers
983Þat were wunt to serue Pers,
984went yn pylgrymage, as yn kas,
985To þat cuntre þere Pers was.
986Ȝole ful feyre gan hem kalle,
987And preyde hem home to hys halle.

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988Pers was þere, þat yche sele,
989And euerychone he knew hem wele.
990Alle he serued hem as a knaue
991Þat was wunt here seruyse to haue.
992But Pers nat ȝyt þey knew,
993For penaunce chaunged was hys hew;
994Nat forþy þey behelde hym fast,
995And oftyn to hym here yȝen þey kast,
996And seyd, "he þat stonte here,
997Ys lyche to Pers tollere."

998He hydde hys vysege al þat he myȝt,
999Out of knowlych of here syȝt;
1000Noþeles þey behelde hym more,
1001And knew hym weyl, al þat were þore,
1002And seyd, "Ȝole, ys ȝone þy page??
1003A ryche man ys yn þy seruage;
1004Þe emperoure, boþe fer and nere,
1005Haþ do hym seche, þat we fynde here."

1006Pers lestned, and herd hem spekyng,
1007And þat þey had of hym knowyng;
1008And pryuyly a-wey he nam,
1009Tyl he to þe porter cam.

1010Þe porter had hys speche lore,
1011And heryng also, syn he was bore;
1012But þurgh þe grace of swete Ihesu,
1013was shewed, for Pers, feyre vertu.
1014Pers seyd, "late me furþ go."
1015Þe porter spak, and seyde "ȝo."
1016He þat was def, and doumbe also,
1017Spak, whan Pers spak hym to.

1018Pers out at þe ȝate wente,
1019And þedyr ȝede, þere God hym sente.
1020Þe porter ȝede vp to þe halle,
1021And þys merueyle tolde hem alle,

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1022How þe squyler of þe kechyn,
1023Pers, þat haþ woned here yn,
1024"He asked leue, ryȝt now late,
1025And went furþ out at þe ȝate.
1026Y rede ȝow alle, ȝeueþ gode tent,
1027whederward þat Pers ys went.
1028with Ihesu cryst he ys pryue,
1029And þat ys shewed weyl on me;
1030For, what tyme he to me spak,
1031out of hys mouþ me þoghte brak
1032A flamme of fyre bryght and clere;
1033Þe flaumme made me boþ speke and here;
1034Speke, and here, now, boþe y may,
1035Blessed be God and Pers to day!"

1036Þe lorde and þe gestes alle,
1037One and oþer þat were yn halle,
1038Had merueyle þat hyt was so,
1039Þat he myȝte swych myracle do.
1040Þan asswyþe Pers þey soght,
1041But al here sekyng was for noȝt;
1042Neuer, Pers þey ne founde,
1043Nyȝt ne day, yn no stounde;
1044For he þat toke Ennok and Ely,
1045He toke Pers, þurgh hys mercy,
1046To reste with-outyn ende to lede
1047For hys meknes and hys gode dede.

1048Take ensample here, of Pers,
1049And parteþ with þe pore, ȝe okerers,
1050For ȝow shal neuer come Ioye with-ynne,
1051But ȝe leue fyrst þat synne;
1052And ȝyue to almes þat yche þyng
1053Þat ȝe haue wune wyþ okeryng.

1054Now with God, leue we Pers;
1055God ȝyue vs grace to do hys maners!

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1056Yn coueytyse synnen marchauntys mekyl,
1057Yn feyre wurdys and yn fykyl,
1058And heteþ hym gode þat he byeþ,
1059And swereþ þarto, and algate lyeþ.
1060For fals peys and fals mesure
1061here soules haue mysauenture.

1062Also hyt longeþ to coueytyse
1063Ȝyf þou hyre one out of seruyse
1064Þurgh ȝyft or þurgh procurment,
1065Þou synnest gretly yn swych atent:
1066Enuye hyt ys, and falsnes yn dede,
1067But ȝyf hyt were for þe more nede.

1068ȝyf þou boghtest of any seriaunt
1069pryuyly, yn stylle cunnaunt,
1070Þyng þat þou wystyst wel was stole,
1071And þurgh þy byyng was forhole,
1072Hyt ys coueytyse and þeft pryue
1073To bye þyng out of commalte.

1074Ȝyf þou receyuedyst any what
1075Of one þat hys þyng forgat;
1076But þou ȝyue hyt hym aȝeyn,
1077Or þe valeu for certeyn,
1078Þou art falle þan yn þe vyce
1079Of, coueytyse, þeft, and auaryce.

1080Or þou ledyst any man to þe ale
1081And madest hym drunk with troteuale,
1082And he solde hys þyng to þe
1083More þan he wulde yn soberte,
1084Hyt semeþ þou art a gylour,
1085And coueytous, and trechour.

1086For men þat loue to do gylerye,
1087At þe alehous make þey marchaundye,
1088To loke ȝyf þey kunne com with-ynne,

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1089here neghburs þyng, falsly to wynne.

1090And a ryche man hyt noyeþ oftyn tyde
1091Þat a pore man hat oght besyde.
1092Alle þat he may, with euyl he fondys
1093For to reue hym, and haue hys londys;
1094Ȝyf he may nat hem at hym bye,
1095He wul weyte hym oþer felunnye,
1096hym to sle, or to endyte,
1097Or þeft he wyl vpon hym wyte,
1098Or ouþer skaþe he wyl hym weyte,
1099Hys bestes for to bete or bayte,
1100To ete hys grasse, or foule hys corne,
1101So þat hys gode shal neuer be lorne:
1102Of swyche men, boþe wryte hyt ys & seyd,
1103Moche peyne ys before hem leyde;
1104here synne shal noþer be forȝyuen ne slakyn
1105Vn-to þey ȝelde þat þey haue takyn;
1106Here mercy ys ful on-certeyn
1107But þey ȝelde hem here gode aȝeyn.

1108Of þys, before ȝe herde me rede,
1109How seynt Fursyn founde hyt yn dede;
1110And here y shal telle a lytyl tale
1111Of swyche a man þat brewed hys bale.

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1112

THE TALE OF THE PRIEST WHO WAS
1113ENABLED TO SEE FOLK'S SINS
1114IN THEIR FACES.


1115

1116A parysshe prest was yn a tounne,
1117A man of ful grete dyscrecyounne; -
1118Dyscrecyun, a ryȝt wyt ys,
1119On boþe partys ryȝtly to ges; -
1120Of hys parysshenes he vndyrstode,
1121whyche were yl, and whych were gode;
1122Tweyn he hadde for to gete,
1123Þat neuer wulde synne lete.

1124And fyl hyt at an esterne,
1125Þat a prest shul none ouþer werne
1126But ȝyf hyt be þe gretter synne,
1127As yn cursyng, or yn vnbuxyme.
1128Þys prest was yn grete þoȝt
1129wheþer he sulde housel hem or noȝt;
1130he preyd God, of heuene kyng,
1131Þat he wulde sende hym sum tokenyng
1132wheþer he shulde hem forbede;
1133To housel hem, he þoȝt grete drede.

1134Fro God he had þys answere:
1135'Þat echone shuld hys owne charge bere,
1136And þat he shulde warne hyt none,
1137But ȝyue hyt furþe to euerychone;'
1138"Do þou as Ihesu dyd yn dede,
1139And þou shalt no man hyt forbede,
1140Ne more þan he ded Iudas,
1141Þat hadde do ful grete trespas."

1142he ȝaue hyt to alle with mylde mode
1143whan brede was turned to flessh & blode.

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1144For some þat hyt takeþ, hyt shal hem saue,
1145And some þarfore peyne shal haue;
1146Aftyr þey are of synne clene,
1147So shal hyt on hem be sene."

1148Ȝyt preyde he God of more grace,
1149Þat he myȝt knowe hem by face,
1150Þe whyche receyued hyt wurþyly,
1151And whyche to have hyt were wurþy.
1152And God graunted hym hys wyl,
1153To knowe þe gode fro þe yl.

1154Þe folk þat to þe preste went
1155For to receyue þe sacrament,
1156Of some þe faces were as bryȝt
1157As þe sunne ys, on days lyȝt;
1158And some, here vysages al blake,
1159Þat no þyng myȝt hem blaker make;
1160And some were as rede as blode,
1161Staryng ryȝt as þey had be wode;
1162And sum were swolle, þe vyseges stout,
1163As þoȝ here yȝen shulde burble out;
1164And sum gnapped here fete & handes,
1165As dogges doun þat gnawe here bandes;
1166And sum hadde vysages of meselrye;
1167And some were lyke foule maumetrye:
1168Many wundrys were on hem sene,
1169Mo þan he myȝt se at þat tyme.

1170Þe prest, whan he say alle þys,
1171Of þat syȝt he gan hym grys;
1172For þat syȝt was hydous,
1173And dreful, and perylous.

1174Ȝyt preyd he God, with gode entent,
1175Þat he myȝt wyte, what al þat ment;
1176And God almyȝty loued hym weyl,
1177And wulde shewe hym euerydeyl;
1178"Þo men þat are so bryȝt
1179As þe sun, or dayes lyȝt,
1180Þo men are ȝyt yn charyte,
1181And clene of synne, & wurschepeþ me;

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1182Þo men þat were so blake,
1183Þat no þyng myȝt hem blaker make,
1184Þey are lecchours foule with-ynne,
1185And haue no wyl to leue here synne;
1186Þo men þat were rede as blode,
1187Þey are Irus, and wykked of mode,
1188here euene crystyn for to slo
1189with deþ, or, with pyne do wo;
1190Þo þat þou sagh with swolle vysage,
1191Þey are enuyous ouer outrage;
1192And þo þat gnapped here finger endes,
1193Are bakbyters betwyxe frendys;
1194Þo þat þou sagh, meselles be syȝt,
1195Þey loue more gode þan God almyȝt;
1196Þo þat þou sagh lyke maumetrye,
1197On wordly þyng þey most affye;
1198More loue þey gode þat he haþ sent
1199þan þey do hym þat alle haþ lent;
1200þese maner men are ȝyt yn wyl,
1201yn here synne to lyue stylle;
1202And þarfore shal þe sacrament
1203On hem aske harde Iugement,
1204Þat þey haue receyue hyt vnwurþyly,
1205And serued þe fende, hys enemy.

1206Þys tale y tolde for loue of þo
1207Þat yn synne to housel go,
1208Or beþ yn wylle to turne aȝeyn;
1209For alle here trauayle þey do yn veyn.

1210Ȝyf þou, whan þy housel shalt take,
1211Be yn wylle þy synne to forsake
1212For euermore yn stedfaste herte,
1213Þogh þou synne sone aftyr, and smert,
1214Ȝyt God takeþ hyt nat to so grete grym
1215As ȝyf þou yn tresoun receyuedest hym.

1216yn no þyng wote y more tresun,
1217Þan brynge þy lorde to hys felun;
1218And ȝyt men sey here synne ys grefe,

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1219Þat bryngeþ a trew man on a þefe;
1220And ȝyf þou do þus, þy wytande,
1221þan charge men hyt most yn hande;
1222þarfore loke þat þou wyte noȝt,
1223No synne hyde yn herte ne þoȝt,
1224Ne wyl nat wyte for neuer more
1225whan þou receyuest God ryȝt þore.

1226Also þe clerk þat haunteþ synne,
1227But he leue, and þer-of blynne,
1228He shal nat serue at þe auter,
1229Noþer halewed þyng to come ner.

1230Y touched langer of þys outrage
1231whan y spake of sacrylage,
1232Þat þe holy gost shewed hym noȝt
1233For þe dekene synned yn þoȝt,
1234Yn þe tale of Ion Crysostomus;
1235Þys tale ys tolde for ȝow and vs.

1236Also he ys wurþy to be shent,
1237Þat, sone aftyr þe sacrament,
1238To foly and to synne hym draweþ:
1239lytyl of Goddes veniaunce hym aweþ.

1240Ȝyf þou forgete or ouersyttes
1241Tyme of housel, þat þou weyl wytes,
1242lytel fors of hym þou ȝyues,
1243Þou louest hym nat þat þou by lyues,
1244And ouer alle þyng he loueþ þe beste,
1245And þou ne wylt, a nyȝtys geste,
1246lete hym herber yn hys hous;
1247Þou art vnkynde ryȝt merueylous,
1248Þat alle þe ȝere þou latest hym weyue,
1249And with wurschyþ þou wylt nat hyt receyue.
1250God manaceþ swyche, for swyche enchesun,
1251And ryȝt hyt wyl, and gode resun;
1252For swyche men are holde vntrewe
1253Yn þe olde lawe, and eke yn þe newe.

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1254Comaundement yn þe olde lawe was,
1255'Ones yn þe ȝere to shewe þy trespas;'
1256þe newe law ys of more onour
1257'Ones to receyue þy creatoure,'
1258Ones yn þe ȝere, to knowleche,
1259Þy lorde to pes, for drede of wreche.

1260Þat prest, y blame ouer alle þyng,
1261Þat with-oute skylle lettyþ to synge;
1262For many a soule myȝt be saued
1263with þe messe þat he haþ leued;
1264For alle þat yn peyne ys,
1265Abydeþ þe socoure of þe messe;
1266For euery messe makeþ memorye
1267Of soules þat are yn purgatorye;
1268Moche þanke shal þat prest haue,
1269Þat helpeþ, hem for to saue;
1270For no þyng may hem so moche auayle
1271Of here peyne and here trauayle,
1272As þe sacrament of þe autere,
1273Ne makeþ hem of peyne so clere.

1274And þat may y shewe apertly
1275By a tale of seint Gregorye;
1276Seynt Gregory telleþ for þe same, A tale.