A master ’twas whose pencil drew
These portraitures, and throughly knew
His hand this face and form to dight
As one who little recked of right,
A woman who would scorn to do
Honour to those to whom ’twas due.
Covetousness.
A picture of Covetousness
Next her was painted Covetise,
Who eggs men on, for their misease,
To gather but to scatter not.
And store, when nought they need, God wot!180
She ’tis the usurer doth cause
To press, unstayed by pity’s laws.
For gain relentlessly. ’Tis she
Doth urge to deeds of felony
Poor thieves, who, when they fall beneath
The hand of Justice, find swift death.
’Tis she that causeth men to take
Their neighbours’ goods, and doth awake
Desire to rob, deceive, and steal;
And ’tis through her that tricksters feel190
Impelled to fraud; ’tis she doth make
False pleaders, who, for lucre’s sake.
Full many an innocent youth or maid
Strip bare, by their unholy trade.
Of patrimony. Crooked and bent
Her fingers grew, as they were meant
By nature all to grip and seize
That came anigh her. Covetise
Careth for nought except to get
Her neighbours’ goods within her net.200
