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II. THE PLOWMANS TALE.
[PART III.
How it is there, it nedeth not stryve,
Whether it be subget or accident,
But as Christ was, when he was on-lyve,
So is he there, verament.
1225If pope or cardinall live good lyve,
As Christ commaunded in his gospell,
†Ayenës that woll I not stryve;
But, me thinketh, they live not well.
Whether it be subget or accident,
But as Christ was, when he was on-lyve,
So is he there, verament.
1225If pope or cardinall live good lyve,
As Christ commaunded in his gospell,
†Ayenës that woll I not stryve;
But, me thinketh, they live not well.
For if the pope lived as god bede,
1230Pryde and hyghnesse he shuld dispyse,
Richesse, covetyse, and crowne on hede,
Mekenesse and povert he shulde use.”
The Gryffon sayd, he shulde abye—
“Thou shal[t] be brent in balefull fyre;
1235And all thy secte I shall distrye,
Ye shal be hanged by the swyre!
1230Pryde and hyghnesse he shuld dispyse,
Richesse, covetyse, and crowne on hede,
Mekenesse and povert he shulde use.”
The Gryffon sayd, he shulde abye—
“Thou shal[t] be brent in balefull fyre;
1235And all thy secte I shall distrye,
Ye shal be hanged by the swyre!
Ye shullen be hanged and to-drawe.
Who giveth you levë for to preche,
Or speke †agaynës goddes lawe,
1240And the people thus falsly teche?
Thou shalt be cursed with boke and bell,
And dissevered from holy churche,
And clene y-dampned into hell,
Otherwyse but ye woll worche!”
Who giveth you levë for to preche,
Or speke †agaynës goddes lawe,
1240And the people thus falsly teche?
Thou shalt be cursed with boke and bell,
And dissevered from holy churche,
And clene y-dampned into hell,
Otherwyse but ye woll worche!”
1245 The Pellican sayd, “that I ne drede;
Your cursinge is of litell value;
Of god I hope to have my mede,
For it is falshed that ye shewe.
For ye ben out of charitè.
1250And wilneth vengeaunce, as did Nero;
To suffren I woll redy be;
I drede not that thou canst do.
Your cursinge is of litell value;
Of god I hope to have my mede,
For it is falshed that ye shewe.
For ye ben out of charitè.
1250And wilneth vengeaunce, as did Nero;
To suffren I woll redy be;
I drede not that thou canst do.
1221. Howe. 1222. subgette. 1227. Ayenst. 1230. shulde. 1232. pouerte. 1235. dystrye. 1238. leaue; preache. 1239. speake agaynst. 1240. falsely teache. 1245. sayde. 1248. falshede.
