(748)
¶ Werrë within our-Iself is most harmfúl
Line 5230
And perillous, & most is a-gayn kynde.
Þer-with þis land hath wrastled many a pul;
Þe smert is swich, it may nat out of mynde,
ffor it haþ cast our welthë [welthe R, welth H.] far be-hynde,
Line 5234
And ferther wolë, [wole R, wold H.] but thoo werrës stynt;
No goode may come of werrës wrathful dynt.
(749)
¶ Whilës þat Romaynes were in hert al oon,
Line 5237
And vndeuydid, al [alle R.] hool stode, þei were
Lordës of al þe worlde; foo was þer non [folio 92b]
Out-warde, as who seith, myght hem greue or dere;
But al sauf welthë [welthe R, welth H.] may men suffre and bere;
Line 5241
With [With R, Wit H.] -Inne hym-self sprang such deuysïoun,
Þat it hem broughtë [brought H R.] to confusioun.
Line 5243
(750)
¶ What causyd hir inwárd werre and rumour [murmur R.]
Line 5244
But auericë? she reft hem her wele;
Whilës þei had in cheerte and fauour
Profit commun, thei hadden bi þe stele
Prosperite; but it a-way gan stele
Line 5248
Whan þei him drough to profyte singuler, [syngulere R, singurer H.]
And of profyt commun nat weren cheer.
Line 5250
(751)
¶ By-hold how [how R, of H.] auaricë crepith inne, [¶ Nota de Auaricia.]
Line 5251
And kyndlith werre, and quenchiþ vnite!
O fauel! þou myghtést ben of hir kynne,
ffor swich a breekë [breke pees R, breek pees H.] -pees as þat is she,
Right swich a-nothir, may I namë þe;
Line 5255
Þou rekkest nat, ne dredest nat, to wende
ffor muk to helle, vnto þe ferthest [into the ferrest R.] ende.
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