But ȝyf he be at any pleyyng
At þe ale house, or at any ouþer ianglyng
For to rage wyþ ylka fyle [maydgerle [O. eury maydegerlde.] ] ,
Line 4540
Þer þenkeþ hym but lytyl whyle.
yn goddys seruyse are swyche [swylke.] men yrk [slow] ;
when þey come vn-to þe kyrke
Line 4540
To here matynys or messë song,
hem þenkeþ hyt lastyþ ouer long;
Þan shal he iangle, or telle a tale,
Or wyte where þey shul haue þe beste ale.
Swyche synne ys kalled 'accyde,'
Line 4545
yn gode dede to be slogh, or long abyde.
Ȝyf any man be coupable yn þys,
yn swyche poyntys þat he [O. omits 'he.'] haue do mys,
Be he hygh or be he logh,
Line 4549
He ys yn Goddys seruyse slogh.
But whan men heryn of þys preche,
Þat god of swyche wyl takë wreche;
Line 4552
'A!' lyghtly þey sey, as hyt may falle,
'God haue mercy on vs alle;'
As who seye 'ȝyf he wyl vs saue,
Or ȝyf he wyl nat; late vs [al.] beleue.'
Line 4556
Nay, nay, hyt may nat be so,
Þyr behoueþ more þarto;
Þou gettyst nat heuene so lyghtly
But þou do yn dede more why.
Line 4560
Prey hym fyrst he ȝeue þe þat mede
Þat þou mayst serue hym wel yn dede:
Ȝyf þou praye þus and syþen wel do,
So mayst þou come hys mercy to;
Line 4564
And nat yn ydylnes, as ȝe þynke, [folio 31a]
wel to ete and wel to drynke,
And ofte to swerë at youre wyl,
