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II. THE PLOWMANS TALE.
[PART III.
And usen boredom and harlotry,
Covetysë, pompe, and pride,
775Slouthë, wrathe, and eke envy,
And sewen sinne by every syde.
Alas! where thinkë such t’abyde?
How woll they accomptes yeld?
From hy god they mow hem nat hyde,
780Such willers wit is nat worth a neld.
Covetysë, pompe, and pride,
775Slouthë, wrathe, and eke envy,
And sewen sinne by every syde.
Alas! where thinkë such t’abyde?
How woll they accomptes yeld?
From hy god they mow hem nat hyde,
780Such willers wit is nat worth a neld.
They ben so roted in richesse,
That Christes povert is foryete,
Served with so many messe,
Hem thinketh that manna is no mete.
785All is good that they mow get,
They wenë to live evermore;
But, whan god at dome is set,
Such tresour is a feble store.
That Christes povert is foryete,
Served with so many messe,
Hem thinketh that manna is no mete.
785All is good that they mow get,
They wenë to live evermore;
But, whan god at dome is set,
Such tresour is a feble store.
Unneth mot they matins say,
790For counting and for court-holding;
And yet he jangleth as a jay,
And understont him-self nothing.
He woll serve bothe erl and king
For his fynding and his fee,
795And hyde his tything and his offring;
This is a feble charitè.
790For counting and for court-holding;
And yet he jangleth as a jay,
And understont him-self nothing.
He woll serve bothe erl and king
For his fynding and his fee,
795And hyde his tything and his offring;
This is a feble charitè.
Other they ben proude, or coveytous,
Or they ben harde, or [els] hungry,
Or they ben liberall or lecherous,
800Or els medlers with marchandry;
Or maynteyners of men with maistry,
Or stewardes, countours, or pledours,
And serve god in hypocrisy;
Such preestes ben Christes fals traytours!
Or they ben harde, or [els] hungry,
Or they ben liberall or lecherous,
800Or els medlers with marchandry;
Or maynteyners of men with maistry,
Or stewardes, countours, or pledours,
And serve god in hypocrisy;
Such preestes ben Christes fals traytours!
773. horedome. 777. suche tabyde. 778. Howe; yelde. 779. hye; mowe. 780. Suche; wytte; nelde. 782. foryet. 785. mowe gete. 787. sette. 788. Suche treasour. 789. mote; saye. 790. holdynge. 791. iaye. 792. selfe nothynge. 793. erle; kynge. 795. tythynge; offrynge. 798. Supply els. 804. false.
