34
HAPPINESS OF THE GREEKS.
Vn-mihty, for mischef · to medle wiþ burdus
Þat nis no chariteuus chois · so schast for to libbe;
Sin ȝe maugray ȝour miht · mote hit wiþ-drawe!
896 Also ȝe sente vs to saie · in þe same time
Of oþur manerus mo · miche for to lakke;
Ye never study; Þat ȝe no stidie in no stounde · ne no stat wilne
Of clergie þat clene is · to claimen in scole;
900 and neither expect nor shew mercy. & þat ȝe mercy on molde · in no maner wilne,
No mercy don to no man · a-mongus ȝou founde.
Þanne hi semeþ by ȝoure sawe · ȝif ȝe soþ tellen,
Þat kindely ȝoure consience · a-cordeþ to bestus.
904Ye are as beasts. For as bestes ȝe ben · by no skile reuled,
Ne hem of kinde no comeþ · no konninge of witte;
So be ȝe, ludus, by-lad · & lawe-les alse,
Þat han no reward to riht · but red-lese wirchen.
908 We are wise. But we faiþful folk · þat faren as wise,
Ben y-demed to do · dedus of rihte.
Forþy vs kenneþ our kinde · to a-corde in trowþe,
In swiche lawus liue · þatt longen to gode;
912We sow and plant. For to sowe & to sette · in þe sad erþe,
& oþur wordliche werk · wisly to founde.
Sin man-kinde is y-maad · so michel & so riue,
915 Among so perles a peple · in-possible hit were—
But somme were reuled by ryht · as resoun hit axeþ—
Some men ought to work. Hem-self to sostaine · wiþ selkowþe þingus,
For to liue by þe land · as ludus ben schape
To haue welþe aftur wo · as þe word farus.
920After work some pleasure. For tenen sum-time tid · & sumtime mirthe;
& aftur swaginge of swinc[1] · swiþe comeþ ioie.
Þat nis no chariteuus chois · so schast for to libbe;
Sin ȝe maugray ȝour miht · mote hit wiþ-drawe!
896 Also ȝe sente vs to saie · in þe same time
Of oþur manerus mo · miche for to lakke;
Ye never study; Þat ȝe no stidie in no stounde · ne no stat wilne
Of clergie þat clene is · to claimen in scole;
900 and neither expect nor shew mercy. & þat ȝe mercy on molde · in no maner wilne,
No mercy don to no man · a-mongus ȝou founde.
Þanne hi semeþ by ȝoure sawe · ȝif ȝe soþ tellen,
Þat kindely ȝoure consience · a-cordeþ to bestus.
904Ye are as beasts. For as bestes ȝe ben · by no skile reuled,
Ne hem of kinde no comeþ · no konninge of witte;
So be ȝe, ludus, by-lad · & lawe-les alse,
Þat han no reward to riht · but red-lese wirchen.
908 We are wise. But we faiþful folk · þat faren as wise,
Ben y-demed to do · dedus of rihte.
Forþy vs kenneþ our kinde · to a-corde in trowþe,
In swiche lawus liue · þatt longen to gode;
912We sow and plant. For to sowe & to sette · in þe sad erþe,
& oþur wordliche werk · wisly to founde.
Sin man-kinde is y-maad · so michel & so riue,
915 Among so perles a peple · in-possible hit were—
But somme were reuled by ryht · as resoun hit axeþ—
Some men ought to work. Hem-self to sostaine · wiþ selkowþe þingus,
For to liue by þe land · as ludus ben schape
To haue welþe aftur wo · as þe word farus.
920After work some pleasure. For tenen sum-time tid · & sumtime mirthe;
& aftur swaginge of swinc[1] · swiþe comeþ ioie.
mem. [ed. famen] non expellitis et ideo nullum potestis habere stumulum luxurie et coeundi. Studium non habetis discendi nec misericordiam queritis, et hec omnia cum bestiis communiter retinetis; quia sicut a natura non habent vt aliquod bonum faciant, ita nec in bono aliquo delectantur. Nobis autem rationabilibus qui liberum habemus arbitrium in ipsa natura multe blandicie sunt concesse. Impossibile enim est vt maxima mundi machina possit absque mobilitate consistere, vt post tristiciam non succedat leticia. Humana
- ↑ MS. 'swine'
