Passus .xus. / decimus de visione . et ijus / secundus de Dowel
Thanne hadde wit a wif . was hote dame Studie
That lene was of lere . and of liche boþe
She was wonderly wroþ . þat wit me þus tauȝte
And al starynge dame Studie . sterneliche lokedT
¶ Wel artow wis quod she to wit . any wisdomes to telle
To flatereres or to fooles . þat frenetike ben of wittes
And blamed hym and banned hym . and bad hym be stille
Wiþ swiche wise wordes . to wissen any sottes
And seide noli mittere man . margery perles
Among hogges þat han . hawes at wille
Thei doon but dryuele þer-on . draf were hem leuere
Than al þe precious perree . þat in paradis wexeþ
I seye it by swiche quod she . þat sheweþ by hir werkes
That hem were leuere lond . and lordshipe on erþe
Or richesse or rentes . and reste at hir wille
Than alle þe sooþ sawes . þat Salomon seide euere
But if it be carded wiþ coueitise . as cloþeres kemben hir wolle N
Who-so kan contreue deceites . and conspire wronges N
And lede forþ a loue-day . to lette wiþ truþe N
He þat swiche craftes kan . to counseil is cleped N
Thei lede lordes wiþ lesynges . and bilieþ truþe N
¶ Iob þe gentile . in hise gestes witnesseþ N
That wikked men þei welden . þe welþe of þis worlde N
And þat þei ben lordes of ech a lond . þat out of lawe libbeþ N
¶ Quare impij viuunt bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt
¶ The Sauter seiþ þe same . by swiche þat doon ille
¶ Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt diuicias
¶ Lo seiþ holy lettrure . whiche beþ þise sherewes N
Thilke þat god gyueþ moost . leest good þei deleþ N
And moost vnkynde to þe commune . þat moost catel weldeþ N
¶ Que perfecisti destruxerunt . iustus autem &c
¶ Harlotes for hir harlotrie . may haue of hir goodes N
And Iaperis and Iogelours . and Iangleris of gestes N
¶ Ac he þat haþ holy writ . ay in his mouþe N
And kan telle of Tobye . and of twelue Apostles N
To Iesu þe gentile . þat Iewes todrowe N
Litel is he loued . þat swich a lesson sheweþ N
Or daunted or drawe forþ . I do it on god hym-selue N
Spitten and spuen . and speke foule wordes N
Drynken and dreuelen . and do men for to gape N
Likne men and lye on hem . þat leneþ hem no ȝiftes N
Thei konne namoore mynstralcie . ne Musik men to glade N
Than Munde þe Millere . of Multa fecit deus
Ne were hir vile harlotrye . haue god my trouþe
Sholde neuere kyng ne knyȝt . ne Chanon of Seint Poules
Ȝyue hem to hir yeresȝyue . þe ȝifte of a grote
¶ Ac murþe and mynstralcie . amonges men is nouþe N
Lecherie . losengerye . and losels tales N
Glotonye and grete oþes . þis murþe þei louyeþ N
¶ Ac if þei carpen of crist . þise clerkes and þise lewed N
At mete in hir murþe . whan Mynstrals beþ stille N
Thanne telleþ þei of þe Trinite . a tale ouþer tweye N
And bryngen forþ a balled reson . and taken Bernard to witnesse N
And puten forþ a presumpcion . to preue þe soþe N
Thus þei dryuele at hir deys . þe deitee to knowe N
And gnawen god wiþ þe gorge . whanne hir guttes fullen N
¶ Ac þe carefulle may crie . and carpen at þe yate N
Boþe afyngred and a-furst . and for chele quake N
But hunten hym as an hound . and hoten hym go þennes N
Litel loueþ he þat lord . þat lent hym al þat blisse N
Ne were mercy in meene men . moore þan in riche N
Mendinauntz metelees . myȝte go to bedde N
God is muche in þe gorge . of þise grete maistres N
Ac amonges meene men . his mercy and hise werkes N
And so seiþ þe Sauter . I haue seiȝen it ofte N
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata inuenimus eam in campis silueT
¶ Clerkes and oþere kynnes men . carpen of god faste
And haue hym muche in þe mouþ . ac meene men in herte
To plese wiþ proude men . syn þe pestilence tyme N
And prechen at Seint Poules . for pure enuye of clerkes N
That folk is noȝt fermed in þe feiþ . ne free of hire goodes N
Ne sory for hire synnes . so is pride woxen N
In Religion and in al þe Reme . amonges riche and pouere N
That preieres haue no power . þe pestilence to lette N
And yet þe wrecches of þis world . is noon ywar by ooþer N
Ne for drede of þe deeþ . wiþ-drawe noȝt hir pride N
Ne beþ plenteuouse to þe pouere . as pure charite wolde N
But in gaynesse and in glotonye . forglutten hir good hem-selue N
And brekeþ noȝt to þe beggere . as þe book techeþ N
Frange esurienti panem tuum &c N
And þe moore he wynneþ and welt . welþes and richesse N
And lordeþ in londes . þe lasse good he deleþ N
¶ Tobye telleþ yow noȝt so . takeþ hede ye riche
How þe book bible . of hym bereþ witnesse
¶ Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue
Si autem exiguum illud impertiri stude libenter
For we haue no lettre of oure lif . how longe it shal dure N
Swiche lessons lordes sholde . louye to here N
And how he myȝte moost meynee . manliche fynde N
¶ Nouȝt to fare as a fiþelere or a frere . for to seke festes
Homliche at oþere mennes houses . and hatien hir owene
Elenge is þe halle . ech day in þe wike
¶ Ther þe lord ne þe lady . likeþ noȝt to sitte
Now haþ ech riche a rule . to eten by hym-selue N
In a pryuee parlour . for pouere mennes sake N
Or in a chambre wiþ a chymenee . and leue þe chief halle N
That was maad for meles . men to eten Inne N
And al to spare to spende . þat spille shal anoþer N
¶ I haue yherd heiȝe men . etynge at þe table
Carpen as þei clerkes were . of crist and of hise myȝtes
And leyden fautes vp-on þe fader . þat formede vs alle
And carpen ayein clerkes . crabbede wordes
Why wolde oure Saueour suffre . swich a worm in his blisse
That bigiled þe womman . and þe man after
Thoruȝ whiche wiles and wordes . þei wente to helle
And al hir seed for hir synne . þe same deeþ suffrede
¶ Here lyeþ youre lore . þise lordes gynneþ dispute
Of þat þe clerkes vs kenneþ . of crist by þe gospel
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c
¶ Why sholde we þat now ben . for þe werkes of Adam
Roten and to-rende . Reson wolde it neuere
Vnusquisque portabit onus suum &c
¶ Swiche motyues þei meueT . þise maistres in hir glorie
And maken men in mysbileue . þat muse muche on hire wordes
Ymaginatif her-afterward . shal answere to hirT purpos
¶ Austyn to swiche Argueres . telleþ þis teme
Non plus sapere quam oportet
¶ Wilneþ neuere to wite . why þat god wolde
Suffre Sathan . his seed to bigile
Ac bileueþ lelly . in þe loore of holy chirche
And preie hym of pardon . and penaunce in þi lyue
And for his muche mercy . to amende yow here
For alle þat wilneþ to wite . þe weyes of god almyȝty
I wolde his eiȝe were in his ers . and his fynger after
That euere wilneþ to wite . why þat god wolde
Suffre Sathan . his seed to bigile
Or Iudas to þe Iewes . Iesu bitraye
Al was as þow woldest . lord yworshiped be þeT
And al worþ as þow wolt . what-so we dispute
¶ And þo þat vseþ þise hauylons . to blende mennes wittes
What is dowel fro dobet . þatT deef mote he worþe
Siþþe he wilneþ to wite . whiche þei ben boþe
But if he lyue in þe lif . þat longeþ to dowel
For I dar ben his bolde borgh . þat dobet wole he neuere
Theiȝ dobest drawe on hym . day after ooþer
¶ And whan þat wit was ywar . what dame Studie tolde
He bicom so confus . he kouþe noȝt loke
And as doumb as deeþ . and drouȝ hym arere
And for no carpyng I . kouþe after . ne knelyng to þe grounde
I myȝte gete no greyn . of his grete wittes
But al lauȝynge he louted . and loked vp-on Studie
In signe þat I sholde . bisechen hire of grace
¶ And whan I was war of his wille . to his wif gan I loute
And seide mercy madame . youre man shal I worþe
As longe as I lyue . boþe late and raþe
For to werche youre wille . þe while my lif dureþ
Wiþ þat ye kenne me kyndely . to knowe what is dowel
¶ For þi mekenesse man quod she . and for þi mylde speche
I shal kenne þee to my Cosyn . þat Clergie is hoten
He haþ wedded a wif . wiþ-Inne þise sixe monþes
¶ Is sib toT seuen artz . Scripture is hir name
They two as I hope . after my techyng
Shullen wissen þee to dowel . I dar it vnder-take
¶ Thanne was he al-so fayn . as fowel of fair morwe
And gladder þan þe gleman . þat gold haþ to ȝifte
And asked hire þe heighe wey . where þat Clergie dwelte
And tel me som tokene quod I . for tyme is þat I wende
¶ Aske þe heighe wey quod she . hennes to Suffre
Boþe wele and wo . if þat þow wolt lerne
And ryd forþ by richesse . ac rest þow noȝt þer-Inne
For if þow couplest þee þer-wiþ . to clergie comestow neuere
¶ And also þe likerouse launde . þat lecherie hatte
Leue it on þi left half . a large myle or moore
Til þow come to a court . kepe wel þi tunge
Fro lesynges and liþer speche . and likerouse drynkes
¶ Thanne shaltow se Sobretee . and Sympletee of speche
That ech wight be in wille . his wit þee to shewe
And þus shaltow come to Clergie . þat kan manye þynges
¶ Seye hym þis signe . I sette hym to Scole
And þat I grete wel his wif . for I wroot hire manye bokes
And sette hire to Sapience . and to þe Sauter glose
Logyk I lerned hire . and manye oþere lawes
And alleT Musons in Musik . I made hire to knowe
¶ Plato þe poete . I putteT first to boke
Aristotle and oþere mo to argue I tauȝte
¶ Grammer for girles . I garte first to write
And bette hem wiþ a baleys . but if þei wolde lerne
¶ Of alle kynne craftes . I contreued tooles
Of Carpentrie of kerueres . and compased Masons
And lerned hem leuel and lyne . þouȝ I loke dymme
¶ Ac Theologie haþ tened me . ten score tymes
And þe depper I deuyne . þe derker me it þynkeþ N
It is no Science for-soþe . for to sotile Inne
A ful leþi þyng it were . if þat loue nere
Ac for it leteþT best bi loue . I loue it þe bettre
Loke þow loue lelly . if þee likeþ dowel N
For do-bet and do-best . ben of loues kynne
¶ In ooþer Science it seiþ . I seiȝ it in Catoun
Qui simulat verbis vel corde est fidus amicus
Tu quoque fac simile . sic ars deluditur arte
And so shaltow fals folk . and feiþlees bigile N
This is Catons kennyng . to clerkes þat he lereþ
¶ Ac Theologie techeþ noȝt so . who-so takeþ yeme
He kenneþ vs þe contrarie . ayein Catons wordes
For he biddeþ vs be as breþeren . and bidde for oure enemys N
And louen hem þat lyen on vs . and lene hem whan hem nedeþ N
And do good ayein yuel . god hym-self it hoteþ N
Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes . maxime autem ad domesticos fidei
¶ Poul preched þe peple . þat parfitnesse louede
To do good for goddes loue . and gyuen men þat asked N
And namely to swiche . as suwen oure bileue
And alle þat lakkeþ vs or lyeþ . oure lord techeþ vs to louye N
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam
For is no science vnder sonne . so souereyn for þe soule N
¶ Ac Astronomye is an hard þyng . and yuel for to knowe
Geometrie and Geomesie . so gynful of speche N
For sorcerie is þe Souereyn book . þat to þo Sciences bilongeþ
¶ Yet ar þer fibicches in forceres . of fele mennes makyng
Experimentz of Alkenamye . þe peple to deceyue
If þow þynke to dowel . deel þer-wiþ neuere
¶ Alle þise Sciences I my-self . sotilede and ordeynede
And founded hem formest . folk to deceyue
Tel Clergie þis tokene . and Scripture after
To counseille þee kyndely . to knowe what is dowel
¶ I seide grant mercy madame . and mekely hir grette
And wente wightly awey . wiþ-oute moore lettyng
And til I com to clergie . I koude neuere stynte
And grette þe goode man . as Studie me tauȝte
And afterwardes þe wif . and worshiped hem boþe
And tolde hem þe tokenes . þat me tauȝt were
Was neuere gome vp-on þis ground . siþ god made þe worlde
Fairer vnderfongen . ne frendlier atese / at ese
Than my-self sooþly . soone so he wiste
That I was of wittes hous . and wiþ his wif dame Studie
¶ I seide to hem sooþly . þat sent was I þider
Do-wel and dobet . and dobest to lerne
¶ It is a commune lyf quod Clergie . on holy chirche to bileue
Wiþ alle þe articles of þe feiþ . þat falleþ to be knowe
And þat is to bileue lelly . boþe lered and lewed
On þe grete god . þat gynnyng hadde neuere
And on þe sooþfast sone . þat saued man-kynde
Fro þe dedly deeþ . andT deueles power
Thoruȝ þe help of þe holy goost . þe which goost is of boþe
Thre persones . ac noȝt in plurel nombre
For al is but oon god . and ech is god hym-selue
Deus pater / deus filius / deus spiritus sanctus
God þe fader / god þe sone . god holy goost of boþe
Makere of man-kynde . and of beestes boþe
¶ Austyn þe olde . her-of made bokes
And hym-self ordeyned . to sadde vs in bileue
Who was his Auctour . alle þe foure Euaungelistes
¶ Alle þe clerkes vnder crist . ne koude þis assoille
But þus it bilongeþ to bileue . to lewed þat willen dowel
For hadde neuere freke fyn wit . þe feiþ to dispute
Ne man hadde no merite . myȝte it ben ypreued
¶ Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum
Thanne is dobet to suffre . for þe soules helþe
Al þat þe book bit . bi holi cherches techyng .
And þat is man bi þy myȝt . for mercies sake
Loke þow werche it in werk . þat þi word sheweþ N
Swich as þow semest in siȝte . be in assay y-founde
Appare quod es vel esto quod appares
¶ Thanne is dobest to be boold . to blame þe gilty
Syþenes þow seest þi-self . as in soule clene N
Dogma tuum sordet . cum te tua culpa remordet
¶ God in þe gospel . greuously repreueþ
Alle þat lakkeþ any lif . and lakkes han hem-selue
¶ Qui consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui . trabem in oculo tuo &c
Eice primo trabem in oculo tuo &c
Which letteþ þee to loke . lasse ouþer moore N
¶ I rede ech a blynd bosard . do boote to hym-selue
For Abbotes and for Priours . and for alle manere prelates
As persons and parissh preestes . þat preche sholde and teche
Alle maner men to amenden . bi hire myȝtes
¶ This text was told yow . to ben ywarT er ye tauȝte
That ye were swiche as ye seyeT . to salue wiþ oþere
For goddes word wolde noȝt be lost . for þat wercheþ euere
If it auailled noȝt þe commune . it myȝte auaille yow-selue
¶ Ac it semeþ now sooþly . to þe worldes siȝte
That goddes word wercheþ noȝt . on lered ne on lewed
But in swich a manere . as Marc meneþ in þe gospel
Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt N
¶ Lewed men may likne yow þus . þat þe beem liþ in youre eiȝen
And þe festu is fallen . for youre defaute
¶ In alle maner men . þoruȝ mansede preestes
The bible bereþ witnesse . þat al þe folk of Israel
Bittre abouȝte þe giltes . of two badde preestes
Offyn and Fynes . for hir coueitise
Archa dei myshapped . and Ely brak his nekke
¶ For-þi ye Correctours claweþ her-on . and correcteþ first yow-selue
And þanne mowe ye safly seye . as Dauid made in þe Sauter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam
¶ And thanne shul burel clerkes ben abasshed . to blame yow or to greue
And carpen noȝt as þei carpe now . neT calle yow doumbe houndes
Canes non valentes latrare
And drede to wraþe yow in any word . youre werkmanship to lette
And be prester at youre preiere . þan for a pound of nobles
And al for youre holynesse . haue ye þis in herte
And gret loue and likyng . for ech of hem loueþ ooþer N
A ledere of louedayes . and a lond buggere N
A prikere on a palfrey . fro Manere to Manere N
And but if his knaue knele . þat shal his coppe brynge N
He loureþ on hym and askeþ hym . who tauȝte hym curteisie N
¶ Litel hadde lordes to doon . to ȝyue lond from hire heires
To Religiouse þat han no rouþe . þouȝ it reyne on hir Auters N
Of þe pouere haue þei no pite . and þat is hir charite N
Ac þei leten hem as lordes . hire londes lyen so brode N
And bete yow as þe bible telleþ . for brekynge of youre rule N
And amende Monyals . Monkes and Chanons N
And Barons wiþ Erles beten hem . þoruȝ Beatus virres techyng N
That hir barnes claymen . and blame yow foule N
¶ Hij in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c
Haue a knok of a kyng . and incurable þe wounde N
¶ That þis worþ sooþ seke ye . þat ofte ouer-se þe bible
Quomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributum . contriuit dominus
baculum impiorum . et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili
¶ Ac er þat kyng come . Caym shal awake
But dowel shal dyngen hym adoun . and destruye his myȝte
¶ Thanne is dowel and do-bet . quod I . dominus and knyȝthode
¶ I nel noȝt scorne quod Scripture . but if scryueynes lye
Kynghod ne knyȝthod . by noȝt I kan awayte
Helpeþ noȝt to heueneward . oone heris ende
Ne richesse riȝt noȝt . ne Reautee of lordes
Poul preueþ it impossible . riche men to haue heuene N
Salomon seiþ also . þat siluer is worst to louye N
Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam
And Caton kenneþ vs to coueiten it . nauȝt but as nede techeþ
Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam
And Patriarkes and prophetes . and Poetes boþe
Writen to wissen vs . to wilne no richesse
And preiseden pouerte with pacience . þe Apostles bereþ witnesse
That þei han Eritage in heuene . and by trewe riȝte
Ther riche men no riȝt may cleyme . but of ruþe and grace
¶ Contra quod I by crist . þat kan I repreue
And preuen it by Peter . and by Poul boþe
That is baptized beþ saaf . be he riche or pouere
¶ That is in extremis quod Scripture . amonges Sarzens & Iewes
They mowen be saued so . and þat is oure bileue
That an vncristene in þat caas . may cristen an heþen
And for his lele bileue . whan he þe lif tyneþ
Haue þe heritage of heuene . as any man cristene
¶ Ac cristene men wiþ-oute moore . maye noȝt come to heuene
For þat crist for cristene men . deide and confermed þe lawe
That who-so wolde and wilneþ . wiþ crist to arise
Si cum Christo surexistis &c
¶ He sholde louye and lene . and þe lawe fulfille
That is loue þi lord god . leuest abouen alle
And after alle cristene creatures . in commune ech man ooþer
And þus bilongeþ to louye . þat leueþ beT saued
And but we do þus in dede . atT þe day of dome
It shal bisitten vs ful soure . þe siluer þat we kepen
And oure bakkes þat moþe-eten be . and seen beggeris go naked
Or delit in wyn and wilde fowel . and wite any in defaute
For euery cristene creature . sholde be kynde til ooþer N
And siþen heþen to helpe . in hope of amendement
¶ God hoteþ heiȝe and lowe . þat no man hurte ooþer
And seiþ slee noȝt þat semblable is . to myn owene liknesse
But if I sende þee som tokene . and seiþ Non mecaberisT
Is slee noȝt but suffre . and al for þe beste N
For I shal punysshe hem in purgatorie . or in þe put of helle
Ech man for hise mysdedes . but mercy it lette
This is a long lesson quod I . and litel am I þe wiser
Where dowel is or dobet . derkliche ye shewen
Manye tales ye tellen . þat Theologie lerneþ
And þat I man maad was . and my name yentred
In þe legende of lif . longe er I were
Or ellis vnwriten for som wikkednesse . as holy writ witnesseþ
Nemo ascendit ad celum . nisi qui de celo descendit
¶ I leue it wel quod I by oure lord . and on no lettrure bettre
For Salomon þe sage . þat Sapience tauȝte
God gaf hym grace of wit . and alle hise goodes after
He demed wel and wisely . as holy writ telleþ
Aristotle and he . who wissed men bettre
Maistres þat of goddes mercy . techen men and prechen
Of hir wordes þei wissen vs . for wisest as in hir tyme
And al holy chirche . holdeþ hem boþe ydampned
¶ And if I sholde werche by hir werkes . to wynne me heuene
That for hir werkes and wit . now wonyeþ in pyne
Thanne wrouȝte I vnwisly . what-so-euere ye preche
¶ Ac of fele witty in feiþ . litel ferly I haue
Thouȝ hir goost be vngracious . god for to plese
For many men on þis moolde . moore setten hir hertes N
At hir mooste meschief . whan þei shal lif lete
As Salomon dide and swiche oþere . þat shewed grete wittes
Ac hir werkes as holy writ seiþ . were euere þe contrarie
For-þi wise witted men . and wel ylettrede clerkes
As þei seyen hem-self . selde doon þer-after
Super cathedra Moysi &c
¶ Ac I wene it worþ of manye . as was in Noes tyme
Tho he shoop þat ship . of shides and of bordes
Was neuere wrighte saued þat wroȝte þer-on . ne ooþer werkman ellis
But briddes and beestes . and þe blissed Noe
And his wif wiþ hise sones . and also hire wyues
Of wightes þat it wroȝte . was noon of hem ysaued
¶ God leneT it fare noȝt so bi folk . þat þe feiþ techeþ
Of holi chirche þat herberwe is . and goddes hous to saueP
And shilden vs from shame þer-inne . as Noes ship dide beestes
And men þat maden it . amydde þe flood adreynten
The culorum of þis clause . curatours is to mene
That ben Carpenters holy kirk to make . for cristes owene beestes
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine &c
¶ On good Friday I fynde . a felon was ysaued
That hadde lyued al his lif . wiþ lesynges and with þefte
And for he beknede to þe cros . and to crist shrof hym
He was sonner ysaued . þan Seint Iohan þe Baptist
And or Adam or Ysaye . or any of þe prophetes
That hadde yleyen wiþ lucifer . many longe yeres
A Robbere was y-raunsoned . raþer þan þei alle
Wiþ-outen any penaunce of purgatorie . to perpetuel blisse
¶ Than Marie Maudeleyne . what womman dide werse
Or who worse þan Dauid . þat vries deeþ conspired
Or Poul þe Apostle . þat no pite hadde
Muche cristene kynde . to kille to deþe
And now ben þise as Souereyns . wiþ Seintes in heuene
Tho þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest . in world þo þei were
¶ And þo þat wisely wordeden . and writen manye bokes
Of wit and of wisedom . wiþ dampned soules wonye
That Salomon seiþ I trowe be sooþ . and certein of vs alle
SineT iusti atque sapientes . & opera eorum in manu dei sunt &c
¶ Ther are witty and wel libbynge . ac hire werkes ben yhudde
In þe hondes of almyȝty god . and he woot þe soþe
Wher-fore a man worþ allowed þere . and hise lele werkes
Or ellis for his yuel wille . and for enuye of herte
And be allowed as he lyued so . for by þeT luþere men knoweþ þe goode
And who were a good man . but if þer were som sherewe
For-þi lyue we forþ wiþ oþere men . I leue fewe ben goode
For quant / oportet / vient en place . il nyad que / patiT
And he þat may al amende . haue mercy on vs alle
For soþest word þat euer god seide . was þo he seide Nemo bonus
¶ Clergie þo of cristes mouþ . comended was it litel
For he seide to Seint Peter . and to swiche as he louede
Cum steteritis ante Reges & presides &c
Thouȝ ye come bifore kynges . and clerkes of þe lawe
Beþ noȝt abasshed . for I shal be in youre mouþes
And ȝyue yow wit and wille . and konnyng to conclude
Hem alle þat ayeins yow . of cristendom disputen
¶ Dauid makeþ mencion . he spak amonges kynges
And myȝte no kyng ouercomen hym . as by konnynge of speche
But wit and wisedom . wan neuere þe maistrie
Whan man was at meschief . wiþ-oute þe moore grace
¶ The douȝtieste doctour . and deuinour of þe trinitee
Was Austyn þe olde . and heiȝest of þe foure
¶ Seide þus in a sermon . I seigh it writen ones
Ecce ipsi ydioti rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur
Arn none raþer yrauysshed . fro þe riȝte bileue N
Than are þise konnynge clerkes . þat konne manye bokes N
¶ Ne none sonner saued . ne sadder of bileue N
Percen wiþ a Pater noster . þe paleys of heuene N
And passen Purgatorie penauncelees . at hir hennes partyng
In-to þe blisse of Paradis . for hir pure bileue
That inparfitly here knewe . and ek lyuede
¶ Ye men knowe clerkes . þat han corsed þe tyme
That euere þe / þe[i] kouþe or knewe moore . þan Credo in deum patrem
And principally hir pater noster . many a persone haþ wisshed
Ac þer shal come