he ys wurþy to be shent,
For a doþ [D'.s order is l. 2644, 2643, 2642, 2641; ho so do D.] aȝens þys comaundment.
But many one þat are [But man on erþe D.] þus fykyl
Synnyn nat [nat alle, synnyth not only she O.] ylychë mykyl; [O. gloss 'moche.']
Line 2644
Þarfor behoueþ [it behouyth.] be tolde þe skyl [skylle.]
As holy men seyn vs tyl. [tyll O, seyn it wel D, O. gloss 'to.']
who-so beleuyþ a wycches [telle a fals D.] sawe,
he bereþ wytnes aȝens þe lawe.
Line 2648
Swyche wycches [suych wikke D.] are for to weyue, [O. gloss 'fle.']
For many men þey [it D.] wyl dysceyue. [deseyue O.]
Some men [& summe D.] wytnessen a lesyng
For nonë ouþer wynnyng
Line 2652
But for to begyle sum man þer-ynne;
Ȝyf hyt delyte hym, grete ys þat [ȝif þou delyȝt it meche. synne D.] synne.
On ouþer manere synnen [synne O, on oþer halue ȝit summe (om. synnen) D.] sum
Þat makeþ lesyng [makyn lesynges O, maken lesyngis D.] þurgh custum
Line 2656
To plese [a-peyre D.] þe folk yn rybaudy:
Þat y halde no synne [calle no s. but D.] dedly,
But þey [But ȝyf þey OD.] haue þeryn delyte;
Line 2659
Þan mow þey [mayst þou D.] synne dedely ful tyte. [O. gloss 'sone.']
And sum vsë [vse as O, lyȝen also D.] for curtesye
To speke [þat spekyn D.] nobly, and ȝyt wyl lye,
Þey synnë [þou synnyst ȝit D.] yn þat feyre spekyng [folio 18b]
Ȝyf þey [þou D.] haue delyt yn þat lesyng.
Line 2664
And some lye oþer [& summe lyȝen D.] more or lesse,
To preyse one bettere þan he es; [preysen . . . isse D.]
Swyche lesyng ys nat [lesyng ys nat D, a lesynge is nat ful HO.] grete folye
But þey hyt vsë comunly.
Line 2668
