[6-text p 662] wynneth he the most partie of [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 299a] this worlde / [851] And right as a Marchaunt deliteth him moste in chaffare that he hath most auantage of / Right so deliteth the fende in this ordure /
[852] this is that other honde of the Deuel / with .v. fyngeres to that kaccheth the peple to his vilonye / [853] The first fynger is the fool lokyng of the fool man / & of the fool woman / that sleth / Right as the Basilicok sleth folke bi the venym of his sight / for the couetise of the eyghen folwith the couetise of the herte / [854] The .ijde. fynger is the vileynes touchinge in wikked manere / and therfore seith Salomon / that who so [¶ Salomon.] toucheth & handelith a woman / he farith I-like him that handelith the Scorpion that stingeth & sodenly sleth / thorugh his envenymynge / And who so toucheth warme picche / hit fouleth his fyngers / [855] The .iij. fynger is foule wordes that farith like fire that anoon brenneth the herte / [856] The iiij. fynger is the kissinge / & trewely he were a grete foole that wolde kisse the mouthe of a brennynge Oven / or of a forneys / [857] & more fooles ben thei that kissen in vilanye / for that mouth is the mouthe of helle / & namely these olde dotardes houlours / yit wol thei kisse / though thei may nat do & smater hem / [858] Certis thei ben I-like houndes / ffor an hounde whan he cometh bi the rosiere / or bi other beautees / though he may nought pisse / yit wol he lifft vp his legge / & make a con|tenaunce to pisse / [859] And for that many men wene that thei may nat synne / for no licorousnesse that he dothe with his wiff / Certis that oppinion is fals / god wote a man may sle him selff with his owne knyff / & maken him dronken with his owne tonne / [860] Certes be it wiff / be it childe / or any other erthely thinge / that he loueth bifore god / hit is his mavmet / & he is an ydolastre / [861] A man sholde loue his wiff bi discresion paciently & attemporally / & than is she [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 299b] as it
