For, God seyþ yn þe gospel þys,
Vpbreydyng hem when þey do mys:
Þe mylke, þe wulle, þey wyl receyue;
Line 4843
And syþþen þe shepe þey wyle late weyue.
Holy wrytë swyche men holdes
As wyldë wuluës brekyng foldes.
Swyche a personë ys ful slogh,
Be he hygh, or be he logh.
Line 4848
Man or womman þat haþ a chylde
Þat wyþ vnþewys wexyþ wylde,
Þat wyl boþe myssey and do,
Chastysment behoueþ þarto;
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But ȝe hem chastyse at ȝoure myȝt,
Ȝe falle, ellys, for hem yn plyȝt.
Better were þe chylde vnbore
Þan fayle chastysyng, and syþþen lore.
Þus seyth þe wys kyng Salamonn
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To men and wymmen euerychonn,
"wyle ȝe þat [Harl. þet.] ȝoure chyldryn [chylder.] be a-ferd,
Ȝyueþ [ȝeuyf.] hem þe smert ende of þe ȝerde;"
And techeþ hem gode þewys echone;
Ȝyt dur ȝow brekë hem no bone.
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[The Tale of the Father that would not chastise his Child.]
y shal ȝow telle a wundyr þyng [A tale.]
Þat fylle for defaute of chastysyng:
Line 4864
Seynt Gregory telleþ, þat mochë kan,
Of a folë husbunde man
Þat hatede a chylde þat he furþe broght
wykkedly, for he chastyed hym noght.
Þys chylde was wurþy for to blame,
Line 4869
For ofte he cursed Goddys name;
whan aght was do aȝens hys wylle,
He cursede Goddys name wyþ ylle.
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