Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

[On Gluttony.]

The syxtë [sext O.] synne ys glotonye; þat ys a shameful vyleynye Line 6516 þat men doun of mete and drynk, For ouermoche ys abominable & stynk.

y wyl now shewë of hys spyces, [speces O.] Þat noun fallë on hys grecys: Line 6520 Ful many on stumble vp and down Of þe greces of syre glotown. y shal ȝow telle þe samë wyse Ryȝt as 'manuel pecches' seyse: Line 6524 he comaundeþ, [comoundeþ O.] at þe bygynnyng, 'Be mesuráble yn alle þyng.'

Of allë wysdom þat shal dure, Þe most wysdom, þan ys 'mesure'; Line 6528 Mesure and resun, to-gedyr þey wone, And alle manere of vertues þey kone. with whom þey wonë, he ys wys, And ys ryche, and holdyn yn prys. Line 6532 hyt ys a gode sygne þat man ys stable, Þat yn resun ys mesuráble. Many a vertu, mesure has, Þat touched ys nat yn þys pas. Line 6536 But þe mesure of etyng, Þát ys boþe to olde and ȝyng; Þarefore wyl y telle ȝow alle Yn what þyngës þat ȝe falle. Line 6540

Be nat to þy self so large, Ouer mesure þyn [Harl. yn.] herte to charge, Þat þou ne kast for vylaynye Ne for þe foule lust of glotonye. Line 6544 Þenk here-on whan þou hyt bygynnys, For þer-yn are þre wykked synnes: Glotonye, and þefte of þyng, And cursed yn chyrche, ys mede endyng.

And y warne þe of þys kas, [folio 44a] Line 6549 To comone with any þat cursyng has, Þat þou wystyst opunly were cursed with holy cherches cry. Line 6552 Ȝyf þou [þou O, om. H.] dedyst hyt by þy wylle, wyþ-oute destresse or lordys wylle, [ylle.] Holy cherche ys wroth wyþ þe astyt, And halt hyt pryde and grete dyspyt, Line 6556 And seyþ þou art vnbuxum, And manteynest an euyl custum.

Ȝyf a cursed man hadde cumpany with one or ouþer, logh or hy, Line 6560 Or yn mete or yn drynke At þe alehous, or ouþer gaderyng, He ne wulde recche how long he lay yn hys cursyng, nyȝt or day. Line 6564 For holy cherchë curseþ none But yn vnbuxumnesse þat haþ mysgone; Þat wyl nat stonde at hys Iustyse, he defendyþ hym þe comune acyse, Line 6568 For to make hym be ashamed Þat he shulde be so defamed, And so shulde he wyte he may nat be But at holy cherche degre. [cherches gre.] Line 6572 For swych þyng, men ofte hem meken, And mercy at holy cherchë sekyn.

Þarfor hyt ys a grete folye, with cursed man haue cumpanye. Line 6576 Seynt Poule seyþ, þat mochë wote, "who-so handlyþ pycche wellyng [pycch wellynge.] hote, He shal haue fylþe þerof sumdeyl Þogh he kepe hym neuer so weyl." Line 6580 And Dauyd seyþ yn þe sauter, For felaushepe, on swych maner, "with holy man, holy shalt þou be;

with wykked man, þou turnest as he." Line 6584 On þese wurdys y rede ȝe þynke, And kepë ȝow fro cursed blynke.

Ne þou shalt, for no mannes prew, [folio 44a:2] Ete, no drynkë wyþ a Iew. Line 6588 But ȝyf he wyl crystendom take, hys felaushepe shalt þou forsake. And þat ys a grete skyl why, For þe Iew ys Ihesus enmye. Line 6592 Þe Iew loueþ, on no manere, Iesu, ne hys modyr dere. Þarfor, ȝyf þou loue hem ryȝt, Forsakë Iew at alle þy myȝt, Line 6596 But ȝyf þou hope þat he wul weyue [forsake] Hys lawe, and crystendom receyue.

[Against making Men drunk.]

Þys custum ys also [also ys.] perylous, To lede a man to þe alehous Line 6600 To do hym drynke out of resun, Or make hym drunke,—þat ys tresun,— Or to þy [þyn.] hous, ȝyf þou hym lede, On hym drynkë for to bede; Line 6604 Þou art gylty of hys synne Ȝyf þou to drunkenes wldest hym wynne. And ȝyf þou ioyë þerof has, Þe more þou fallyst yn trespas; Line 6608 Hyt ys a tokene of felunnye To weytë hym with swych gylrye.

Also ȝyf þou any day shuldest [shulle.] fast, And þou ouertymely þy metë aske, Line 6612 Glotony haþ swych longyng wroght, Þat þou to tyme abydest noght.

Anoþer spyce ys yn glotonye, To ete ouer delycyusly, Line 6616 For to be serued with many messe: [mese.] Þat haunte þese lordyngës on dese. [on table]

wuld þey of euery a messe [mese.] ȝyue To helpe þe pore wyþ for to lyue, Line 6620 Þe boldlyere þey myȝt hem self fede Ȝyf þey dedyn þat almës dede. But of almës þenk þey noȝt, For lust and lykyng ys more yn þoght. Line 6624

Þou þat louest so many messe, [mes.] [folio 44b] wuldest þou þenke on syre Dyues, And of þe porë man [man also.] Laȝare Þat syre Dyues late mysfare, — Line 6628 For he asked hym sum gode, Of hys mete, for hys [to þe.] lyuës fode, — y trowe þou shuldest nat forgete Þe pore man at þy mete, Line 6632 Ȝyf þou vndyrstode, y wene, what þe talë wulde bemene.

[The Tale of Dives and Lazarus.]

A ryche man was sum tyme of prys [A tale.] Þat wered boþe purpure and bys, Line 6636 And euery day nobly was led, And with delycyus metys fed; And þer was þo a porë man, Lazare, þat þe wurd of ran, Line 6640 He lay at þe ryche mannys ȝate, Ful of bylës, yn þe gate [wey] ; He ȝerned moche to ete hys fylle Of þe crummes þat þe ryche man ded spyl, [spylle.] But no man ȝaue hym on to byte, Line 6645 Þogh þat asked he so lyte: But þe rychë mannës houndes

Come and lykked Laȝares woundes. Line 6648 Sone aftyrward deydë Laȝare Before þe mannes ȝatë þare; Goddës aungeles þe soulë nam, And bare hyt yn-to þe bosum of Abraham.

Abrahams bosum ys a dwellyng Line 6653 Þat holy men haue yn restyng, Þat to Ihesu, Goddys sone, cam, Þat flesshe and blode yn Mary nam. Line 6656 Abrahams bosum ys [ys H, om. O.] a stede, men telle, Betwyxë paradys and helle.

Fyl [Fylle.] auenture, as y er seyde, Þys rychë man sone aftyr deyde. Line 6660 Hys soule was bore to Lucyfere, with-outyn ende to dwellë þere; And, as he was þere yn pyne, [folio 44b:2] He loked vpwarde with hys yne, Line 6664 And sagh Laȝare, þe porë man, yn þe bosum of Abraham; And as he myȝt, he ȝaue a cry, And seyd, "Abraham, mercy, mercy! Line 6668 Late Laȝare hys o fynger wete, And, droppe on my tunge for hete; For y am yn endles peyne, yn fyre and yn leye certeyne." Line 6672

And Abraham spak [spak O, om. H.] as yn vpbreyde, "Sone! menest þou nat what y er [ere.] seyd? Þou receyuedyst þe wurldys blys, Line 6675 And Laȝare, pouert and peyne ywys. Þou ete and drunke, and were ful blyþe; And Laȝare hungred, & ful wo syþe; And now shal he, for hys deserte, Haue welþe y-nogh for hys pouert; Line 6680 And þou, for welþe, to pyne shal [peyne shalt.] go,

And for þy ryches þou shalt haue wo. Now ys Laȝare euer yn solace, And þou yn sorow with-outë grace; Line 6684 Þe endles ende may no man telle Betwyxe vs here, & ȝow yn helle; Betwyxe oure ioye, and ȝourë peyne, ys endles tyme, and vncerteyne. Line 6688 Swych sykernes ys betwyx [sekernes ys betwene.] ȝow two, Þat noun of vs to ȝow may go. None of vs to ȝow may come, But echone haue hys ownë dome." Line 6692

Þan preyde þe ryche man, Abraham, þat he wlde sende Lazare, or sum oþer wham, To hys breþryn allë fyue, Þat þey loke hem so, yn here lyue, Line 6696 Fro auaryce and fro glotonye And ȝyue to porë men bleþlye, "Þat þey neuer hedyr be sent, with me, yn þys hete, to be brent." Line 6700

Abraham ne graunted hym noght [folio 45a] Þat þe ryche man hym besoght, "Þey haue," he seyd, "alle þe prophete dedys, And holy wryt, þat men on redys, Line 6704 To teche hem boþë ryȝt and skyle, Do þeraftyr, ȝyf þey wyle."

Þan spake þe rychë man, "Nay, fadyr Abraham, nay, þey ne kan; But wuldest þou do aftyr my rede, Line 6709 To reyse a man þat haþ be dede, þat myȝt hem þe peynës telle Þat þey shul suffre and yn dwelle, Line 6712 Þan shulde þey do ryȝt penaunce For to askapë þys myschaunce."

Abraham wulde nat graunte Þe ryche man þat cunnaunt, Line 6716 A dedë man vp for to reyse, "Syn Moyses sawes þey wyl nat preyse,

How wulde þey at a dede man lere, whan holy wryt þey wyl nat here?" Line 6720

Þys tale tellyþ oure lorde Ihesu To rychë men for herë prew, [pru.] Þat þey ne be no nythyng Of here mete, ne of here þyng. Line 6724 To porë men, namëly, Þat þou ȝyuest hem, ȝyue hyt [hyt H, om. O.] bleþly, with no betyng, ne with noun awe; Almës ys noȝt wyþ any myssawe. Line 6728

why tellyþ he þe [þe H, om. O.] wykkednes of þys man alle,— And he ne robbed, ne he ne stalle,— But for he bare hym ouer hye, And ledde hys lyfe yn glotonye, Line 6732 And to þe pore dyd euyl yn dede, No halp hym noȝt yn hys nede: Ne Laȝare asked nat greuuslyke, But a fewe crummës for to pyke; Line 6736 And for he ȝaue [ȝaf.] hym noun on to byte, Hym was werned as lyte: [[6-syll.]] As lytyl as he hym wernede, [folio 45a:2] As lytyl þyng he ȝernede; Line 6740 he preydë Laȝare hym to sende A dropë of hys fynger ende.

Loke how euene Iugement, Þe tone aȝens þe toþer, was sent: Line 6744 hyt ys but a lytyl synne, Of a drope and of a crumme; þan wyl hyt be ful harde a-counte Of þyng þat wylle to moche a-mounte. Line 6748 Þarfor, ȝe lordyngys, beþ ful ware, Þenkeþ on Dyues and on Laȝare, And þe porë naȝt [noght.] forgete whan ȝe syttë at ȝoure mete. Line 6752

And þou þat fedyst þe so rychely, Ouer mesure yn glotonye, Þenk þat þou shalt stynk and rote,

And wurmës shul fyl þy þrote, Line 6756 And þe fouler shal þy body stynke, For thy ryche metë, and þy drynke.

Euery man ȝyue tente to þys, And se how vyle hys body ys. Line 6760 Twey dayys or þre mow hyt loke [kepe] Mete, ar man hyt ete or toke; But as sone as hyt ys yn þe ȝoten, Yn half a day þan ys hyt roten; Line 6764 Ryȝt vyle, and alþer meste, Þan hyt ys of any ouþer beste. Se weyl þys! þan mayst þou fynde, how vyle þan ys þyn ownë kynde. Line 6768

Þys rychë man that y of telle, Wente nat oonly þarfor to helle, But, for þat he wuldë noght Ȝyue to Laȝare þat he besoght, Line 6772 Ne noȝt only for glotonye, Ne auaryce, ne for beryng hye, Noȝt for-þy, þe leste of þys, Myȝt brynge a man to Iuwys. Line 6776

why was God moste wyþ hym wroth? [folio 45b] For he dyd þe pore man loth, [harme] And for he dyd hys [hys O, he H.] houndes oute late To byte þe Laȝare at þe ȝate; Line 6780 And, for he dyde hym þat dyspyte, [despyt.] God wrathede hym astyte, And deyneþ nat to nemne hys name, For he dede þe pore man shame, Line 6784 But calleþ hym yn þe gospel, ryche, As vnkyndë and vnbryche. For ful comunly shalt þou fynde Oftë rychë men vnkynde. Line 6788

Lorde! how shul þese robbers fare, Þat þe pore pepyl pelyn ful bare,— Erlës, knyȝtës, and barouns, And ouþer lordyngës of tounnes; Line 6792 Iustyses, shryues, [shereues.] and baylyuys,

Þat þe lawës alle to-ryues, And þe pore men alle to-pyle; To ryche men do þey but as þey wylle. [wyle.]

Þys ryche man, as þe gospel seys, Line 6797 was but to .o. man vncurteys, And hadde so mochë pyne [peyne.] þarfore; On hem wyl fallë mochë more Line 6800 Þat many pore men pyle and bete, For God no synne wyl þey nat lete. Swych ryche men [men H, om. O.] þat are aȝens Goddys [goddes.] pes, Þenkeþ on Laȝare and on Dyues; Line 6804 And beþ nat pynede wyþ Satanas For porë men, as Dyues was, And ys, and euer [euermor.] shal be; Ȝyt robbed he neuer [noþer.] golde ne fee. Line 6808 By þys skylle, þan mow ȝe se, Þat ȝe are wers þan was he. He dyde but lete an hounde hym to; Ȝe rychë men, weyl wers ȝe do! Line 6812 Ȝe wyl noun houndës to hem lete, But, ȝe self, hem sle and bete. He ne dyd but werned hym of hys mete; [folio 45b:2] And ȝe, robbe al þat ȝe mow gete; Line 6816 Ȝe are as Dyues, þat wyl naght ȝyue; And wers, for ȝe robbe þat þey shulde by lyue. Of mochë peyne ȝe mow ȝow drede, For ȝe do weyl wers þan Dyues dede. Line 6820

Ȝe rychë men, God wyl ȝow charge Þat ȝe ȝyue ȝoure almës large; Nat ouer powere, neuer a deyl, But ȝyue þat, þat ȝe mow [may.] ful weyl; Line 6824 And nat allonely largëly, But with loue, þat ys, curtesy;

Ȝyueþ curteysly, and nat to bete, Ȝow were bettyr ȝoure almës lete. Line 6828

Ȝyf a pore man take ons or twyys, [ones or twys.] Mysdo hym nat, ȝyf þou be wys, Ne seye hym noun oþer vyleynye; Þan doust þou larges and curteysye. Line 6832 More þank þou getest for swych ȝyuyng Þan seuene so moche with chydyng. Herefore Seynt Ihon þe aumenere seys, And techyþ men to be curteys. Line 6836

[The Tale of St. John the Almoner, and his great Liberality and Courtesy.] [A tale]

Hyt seyþ Seynt Ihon þe aumenere Pore men called hym Goddys spensere; He was bysshope and patryarke Of Constantynë, [constantyne O, constatyne H.] noble starke. Line 6840 Of hym ȝede ful fyr þe name, [ful fere ȝede þe fame.] Of large almës men ȝaue [ȝafe.] hym name. A pylgryme herde of hym þus seye, And to hys palys he toke þe weye; Line 6844 whan he cam [com.] þer, he sagh seynt Ihōn [Iohone.] Dele þe pore folk ful gode wone; He seyd he wulde hym ouercharge, To wete wheþer seynt Ihon were large.

He com, and asked þe charyte, Line 6849 And seynt Ihon, þat was so fie, He commaundede hys seriaunte Line 6851 For to ȝyue hym syxe besaunte. Þys pylgrym ȝede and chaunged hys wede, [folio 46a] More to aske, ȝyf he myȝt spede. [[Fr. 221/5624]]

And seyd he hadde goun many a gate, [O. gloss 'wey.'] And to þe cyte he was com late, Line 6856 And of spensys had [spenses hadde.] he non, So hadde he yn pylgrymage gon. Seynt Ihōn commaundede hys aumenere To ȝyue hym ouþer syxe, for he had mystere. [nede] Line 6860 Þe aumener parceyued weyl þat tyme Þat hyt was þe same pylgryme Þat toke byfore þe charyte, And seyd, "syre, þys ys he." Line 6864 Noþeles, oþer wroth or glad, He ȝaf [ȝafe.] hym, þat seyn [seynt.] Ihōn bad.

Þys pylgrym eft [eft H, om. O.] besydë nam, [ȝede] And eftë þe þryd tymë cam [he cam.] Line 6868 yn a-noþer wede þan he was ore, And asked at seynt Ihōn ȝyt more. Þe aumenere was wroth þerfore, Þat he asked so oute of skore, Line 6872 Syn hym was ȝyue so largëly, And ȝyt he asked, and was gredy. But Seynt Ihōn, he was fre, And yn ful gretë charyte Line 6876 He commaunded to hym a-none To ȝyue hym twelue besauntes echone: "Peráuenture, God wyl me proue what y wyl do for hys loue, Line 6880 Oþer hyt ys God hym selue; Þarfore ȝyf [ȝyue.] hym besauntes twelue; Or he proueþ me a-noþer wey, Ȝyf y wyl any of hys myssey; Line 6884 Þarfore ȝyueþ with godë wyl And curteysye, with-outyn yl."

Þys tale y toldë ȝow þys tyde, Þat ȝe with no pore men [man.] chyde; Line 6888

Line 6888 ȝyf þou chydyng with hym makes, whan þyn almes of þe he takes, He byeþ hyt dere with hys myssawe, [folio 46a:2] And shame þerwith, and drede, and awe. Ȝyf for þat ȝyft þou wylt haue mede, Line 6893 Mysdo hym nat, yn wurde ne dede.

Also hyt ys grete curteysye To ȝyue ȝoure almës hastylye; Line 6896 Nat for to makë long delay, To late a wrecchë stonde al day Cryyng at þy ȝate yn colde; He byeþ þyn almes on manyfolde, Line 6900 And þogh þou ȝyue hym lytyl or noght, Algate hyt ys dere y-boghte. And, þarfore hyt were weyl doun To ȝyue þyn almës gladly and soun. Line 6904

And y warne ȝow alle of o þyng, Forþenkeþ nat of ȝoure almes-ȝyuyng. Ȝyf þou forþenkest, þou getyst maugre, Þy ȝyft ys nat yn charyte; Line 6908 Ryght so dyd þe bysshope Troyle, For hys almes he made grete doyle, [sorowe] [A tale] Þat a sykenes hym ouer haf [hafe.] For largë almes þat he ȝaf. [ȝafe.] Line 6912 Seynt Ihoun þe aumenere telleþ how, And as he seyþ, y shal telle ȝow; A gode ensample, as we rede, Þat none forþynke hys almës dede. Line 6916

[The Tale of Bishop Troylus and his Thirty Pounds.]

Þys yche seynt Ihōn þe aumenere was a patryark of grete powere; Vndyr hym was bysshope Troylus, Þat for to haue tresour was coueytous.

And on a day, as fyl to be Line 6921 Þat seynt Ihōn ȝaf hys charyte, Þe bysshope Troylë, for cumforte, with hym wentë for [to O, om. H.] dysporte, Line 6924 To se þe folk þat þyrdyr [þyder.] come Of many cuntres þat oute were nome. Þat ychë tyme þat chaunce gan falle, Seynt Ihōn hadde nat to ȝyue hem alle; But a man, þat was þere, [folio 46b] Line 6929 Rouned yn seynt Ihōns [Iones.] ere, 'Þat he hadde broght þat ychë stounde [tyme] To syre Troylë þyrty [þrytty.] pounde, Line 6932 And he myȝt helpë, ȝyf he wylde, Þat hys dolë were fulfylde.'

Seynt Ihon to Troyle bygan to sermun [to speke] with ensamples of [and.] gode resun, Line 6956 "Þat he hadde pyte of here cryyng; To se hem wepe, was reuful þyng; For God shal þanke alle at þe laste day yn dede, Þat of þe pore for hys loue han pyte at nede. Line 6940 what ys hyt wrþ to preche yn cherche, whan men yn dedë wyl nat werche? And now hyt ys so on þy party, Thou hast besauntes of golde redy, Line 6944 Þat þou mayst helpe, ȝyf þat þou wylt, Þat þys pore peple be nat spylt."

what for almes, and what for despyte, Troylë commaunded al styte Line 6948 Þat þo [þe.] þrytty pounde of golde were ȝyue þere seynt Ihōn wolde.

To þe pore was hyt so delte and dryue, Þat euery besaunt was furþ ȝyue. Line 6952 whan allë haddë þat þere cam,

Seynt Ihōn and Troylë homward nam: Troyle fyl yn a grete syknes For sorow [sorowe.] of hys large almes; Line 6956 Þat sorow [sorowe.] hadde hym so ouercome, Þat þe feuer hadde hym nome. [O. gloss 'take.'] He wende weyl þat he hadde be lore, So lytyl hope yn hym was bore. Line 6960 Hys godë hopë was ful badde, For hym þoghte lore, þat pore men hadde.

Seynt Ihon wulde nat Troyle forgete, He sente aftyr hym to þe mete; Line 6964 But he excused hym, and seyd nay, And seyd þat he yn þe feuer lay, And to þe deþe he hoped weyl, [wele.] [folio 46b:2] Þarefore ne myȝt he come þat sele. [þat tyme] Line 6968

whan Seynt Ihōn herde þat seye, Þat Troyle supposed [soposede.] for to deye, Asswyþë to hym he ȝede, And cunseyled hym to haue no drede; "Drede þe noght, [nat.] my godë sone, Line 6973 Goddës manere we owe to kone; For alle þo þat he loueþ dere, he chasteþ hem on many manere; Line 6976 And as he sendeþ to þè, sykenes, He wyl sende hele whan hys wyl es."

Seynt Ihōn wyst wele hys herte, Hys sykënes, and alle hys querte; Line 6980 Þarfore he seydë on þys wyse— For he knew hys coueytyse,— "Þy golde þat was to me so redy, To me þou lentyst hyt, graunte mercy; For y was yn wyl, for þe feste, Line 6985 Þat euery hadde a peny, who so hadde leste.

But y myȝt nat so of myne, But y hadde borowed at þe of þyne; Line 6988 Þo þrytty pounde, God haþ me sente, And here þey are now, þy [yn.] presente; And asswyþe þey shul be payd, No lenger shul þey be delayd." Line 6992

Seynt Ihōn called hys chaumberleyn, And tolde hem to Troyle, be [by.] summe certeyn. Anoun cumforted was Troyle so weyl Þat hys sykenes he forgate eche deyl, Line 6996 And so smartly, yn tyme so lyte, Þat þey allë myȝt wele wyte Þat þe feuer þat hym so shoke was for þe monye [mone.] þat he toke. Line 7000

He dyde on hys cloþys astyte, And to Seynt Ihon he wrote a skryte; Þys skryt [scryte.] conteyneþ, as hyt seyþ þore, Þese samë wurdës, lesse ne more: Line 7004 "God þe ȝelde, my lorde Syre Ihōn, Þe besauntes þat were delte echon, Þat y lente þe, þrytty pounde, Line 7007 Yn hande y haue hem hole and sounde." And Troyle dyde þe skryt [scryte.] weyl sele, And syþen ros vp yn gode hele; And went hym homë with seynt Ihon; Of euyl felte [felt.] he no more non. Line 7012

But Ihesu, þat seëþ al þyng, Shewed to Troyle þys tokenyng How he hadde lore a rychë holde, And for auaryce he hyt solde. Line 7016

Troyle tolde, he sagh þys syght At þe fyrst slepe of þe nyght:

Hym was shewed a paleys, So fayre was neuer noun, hyt seys; Line 7020 For alle hyt was of betyn golde, Alle þat euer stode on molde. Myȝte no man aymë þe largenesse, [largesse.] Ne tungë tellë þe feyrnesse. Line 7024 Þer-yn was so noble atyre, Shynyng as golde, flammyng as fyre. Aboute [aboue.] þe ȝatë wrytyn was Þat Troyle beheldë a long space, [spas.] Line 7028 And ofte he reddë þat wrytyng, And haddë þeryn grete lykyng; Þys was þere wryte,—as seynt Ihōn telles, And as men of þys story spellys,— Line 7032 "Reste and hous with-outyn ende, Þe bysshope Troylë shal to wende."

Þus þoght Troylë yn hys bedde, As he ofte on þe lettyr [lettre.] redde. Line 7036 Þan wende Troylë sykyrly weyl, Þe kyng hadde ȝyue hyt hym [hym hyt.] eche deyl; Þarefore syre Troylë was ful gladde Þat he swyche a paleys hadde. Line 7040

Vnneþë þenne hys yȝe [ye.] was glent, Þat one fro God þydyr was sent, And commaunded alle yn rape [haste] [folio 47a:2] A-wey þat wrytyng for to skrape. Line 7044 Alle þat spakë of syre Troyle was skraped [shrapede.] a-wey, as who sey oyle.

Sone aftyrward, with-yn a lytyl, was þere wryte anoþer [a nouþer.] tytyl; Line 7048 Þys tytyl þat was latter wryte, Þus moche hyt ys for to wyte, "Rest, and hous, and wonyng, Graunteþ, and ȝyueþ, [ȝyfth.] heuene kyng, Line 7052 To Ihōn þe patryark so fre,

with-outyn ende yn ioye to be, For þrytty poundë þat he boghte, And to almës dede hem broghte." Line 7056

And Troylë waked sone anone, And tolde hys dremë to seynt Ihōn, [Johone.] Euery deyl how he hadde sen, And was ordeyned to haue [ha.] ben. Line 7060 "Þarfore," he seyde, "fro henne forward Ne shal y neuer be to pore man hard; So feyre ys dyȝte to hem to lyue, Þat blely wyl to pore men ȝyue." Line 7064 But algate Troyle þat tyme had tynte Þe fyrst paleys þat God hadde hym mynte.

Ȝe lordynges þat haue y-now, Þys talë haue y tolde for ȝow, Line 7068 Þat ȝe ne repente ȝow of largés Þat ȝe ȝyue to ȝoure almés; And þenkeþ on þe bysshope Troyle Þat for large almës made grete doyle, Line 7072 Þat ȝe ne lese nat þat paleys Þat God ordeyneþ to alle curteys; For who so ȝyueþ [ȝyfth.] curteysly, Hyt fordoþe þe synne of glotonye. Line 7076

Of mete, glotonye wyl bygynne; Almës þerof fordoþe þat synne. Almës fordoþ alle wykkednes, Line 7079 And quenchyþ synne, and makyþ hyt les. Almës semeþ hyt cumþ of loue [folio 47b] Þat þou ȝyuest [ȝyfst.] to man for God aboue, Oþer for hym þat þou ȝyuest þore, Or hym þat þou ȝyuest [ȝyfst.] hyt fore. Line 7084 Almës, þou wost weyl, ys a ȝyfte; And for þe ȝyuyng, man ys vplyfte.

Ȝyue gladly, for God, þyn almës here; Hym ȝyue þou hyt on alle manere, Line 7088 And for hys loue, to hys meyne, Ȝyf þou of hym wylt loued be.

So wyl ȝyftys louë tylle, And gadyr many one to gode wylle. Line 7092

For ȝyftys, twey loues mayst þou haue, And boþe be [by.] tymës mow þe saue. Þe fyrst ys, ȝyf þou ȝyue þy þynges To hauë louë of lordynges: Line 7096 For þy ȝyfte þou mayst be herde, And saue þy godë yn þe werlde; But þat love lasteþ lytyl whyle, And aȝens God hyt wyl þe fyle. Line 7100

Þe toþer loue is noght for þys; Hyt askeþ noght but heuene blys; And þat loue ys, euery deyl, loue of God and pore man weyl. Line 7104 what ys loue vnto men pore? Almës to hem ys recouere; Almës dede of loue ys wey, Noþer mysdo, noþer [hem no.] myssey; Line 7108 Þan wyl God almyghty loue þe; Þy loue ys þan with charyte.

Charyte ys, þe certeyn to lere, loue of þyn euyncrysten dere. Line 7112 So sone þerto, noght wyl þe lede, Ne so moche, as wyl almës dede. Charyte ys, þe longyng of loue, As y haue tolde ȝow here aboue; Line 7116 For alle þat euer þou mayst do,— But loue yn charyte be þerto— Alle þat euer hast þou wroght, [folio 47b:2] Stant þe ellës al at noght. Line 7120

Se now what seynt Poulë seys Yn a pystyl, þe samë weys,— "Þogh y speke as weyl with tung [tounge] As any man or aungel haþ song, [sounge.] Line 7124 And y lyue nat with charyte, No þyng auayleþ hyt to me. For y do þan ryȝt as þe bras, And as þe tympan, þat bete was; Line 7128

Line 7128 Þe bras, to oþer, ȝyueþ [ȝyfþe.] grete sown, And bet hym self vp and down. And þogh y speke al yn prephecye, [prophecye.] And haue þe kunnyng of euery maystrye, And, with gode beleue myght seye Line 7133 Þe hylles to turne yn-to þe valey, ȝyf hyt ne be with charyte wroght, Ellës, he seyþ þat y am noght. Line 7136 Þogh y ȝyue alle my wurldës gode Vnto porë mennys fode, And ȝyue my body for to brenne Opunly oþer men to kenne, [teche] Line 7140 But ȝyf þar be charyte with alle, My mede þarfore shal be ful smalle."

loke now how many godenesse [godenesses.] þer are, with-outë charyte noght but bare. Line 7144 wylt þou know [Wyltow knowe.] þy self, and se Ȝyf þou wone yn charyte?

Charyte suffreþ boþe gode and yl, And charyte ys of reuful wyl, Line 7148 Charyte haþ noun enuye, And charyte wyl no felunnye; Charyte ys nat Irus, [wraþful] And charyte ys nat coueytous; Line 7152 Charyte wyl no bostful preysyng; he wyl noght but ryȝtwys þyng; Charyte loueþ no fantome, No þynges þat euyl may of come; Line 7156 He haþ no ioye of wykkednes, [folio 48a] But loueþ alle þat sothfast es; Alle godenes he vp bereþ; Alle he suffreþ, and noun he dereþ; Line 7160 Gode hope he haþ yn ryghtwys þyng, And alle he susteyneþ to þe endyng; Charyte ne fayleþ noght, Ne no þyng þat with hym ys wroght. Line 7164 when alle prophecyes are alle gone, [agone.]

And alle tunges are leyde echone, And alle craftys fordo shul be, Þan [Þen.] lasteþ stedfast charyte." Line 7168

Þus seyþ seynt Poule, and mochë more, Yn hys pystyl of hys lore. Seynt charyte ys [ys boþe.] gode and hende, lastyng with God with-outyn ende. Line 7172

Gode hyt were to loue hyt weyl, And folowe hyt with oure dede sumdeyl. Ȝyf we þys charyte wyl haue, Ȝyue we þe pore whan þey vs craue; Line 7176 Ȝyue we hem, as hyt ys oure myȝt, with-oute myssaw or any fyȝt; Þan ys hyt curteys almës dede; Þank of God þan ys oure mede, Line 7180 And shal stonde ful stalwurþly Aȝens þe synne of glotonye, As y haue tolde ȝow here byfore, Line 7183 And furþer shal y telle ȝow ['ȝow' omitted.] now more.

At þe begynnyng y spake of þys, Ete ne drynk but þat nede ys. who so doþ hyt oute of mesure, Hele of body may nat dure, Line 7188 And to hys soule, hyt ys dedly synne, Þat custummable ys þer-ynne; And penaunce harde þarfore shal go, But we kepe vs weyl þerfro. Line 7192

Loke yn þys sawe what Catoun seys, Þat ys wyys and ryȝt curteys, "Ȝyf þou yn hele wylt dure, [folio 48a:2] Ete and drynk of swych mesure Line 7196 Þat þy strenkþe be nat þe lesse;

For, drynkyng oute of skylle, Þy body bryng hyt wylle To sorowe and to sykënesse." Line 7200

Line 7200

And ouþer spyces haþ glotonye: To ete þy mete ouer brennynglye And lustly, whan þou hyt getyst, And takest noun hede what þou etyst. Line 7204

Anoþer spyce ys noght to pay, As a beste to ete al day, And kepyst nonë [no.] certeyn tyme, Þe settyng at none or pryme, Line 7208 Noþer ouþer tyme þat fallyþ [falþ.] to man, But as a beste þat no resun kan. Me þenkeþ weyl hyt ys resun To callë swych a man 'glotoun.' Line 7212 Twyys on þe day ys sustynaunce To man þat haþ gode cheuysaunce. Þe cheuysauncë, woste þou how, To man þat haþ metë ynow, Line 7216 Þogh he be man of trauayle, Hyt were y-now with-outë fayle.

But þo men þat haue no swynk, Þat delyte hem yn mete or [and.] drynk, Line 7220 Þe apostyl [apostole.] Poulë spekþ of þo, And dampneþ many one to wo. He seyþ "woo to þo þat erly ȝerne, Þat go and hauntë þe tauerne, Line 7224 Yn wyne or ale to haue lykyng; Cursednes hem folowyþ at þe endyng. Of swych, here wombës are here Cryst; [kryst.] Þat ys here loue, þat ys here tryst." Line 7228 Alle þys he meneþ sykyrly For man þat loueþ [loue.] moche glotonye.

Ȝungë chyldryn, þey mow wele, On þe day, etë þre mele; Line 7232 For sum of hem wex ful tyte, [folio 48b] Þarefor ys more, here appetyte; And ȝyt behoueþ tyme be þar-to, Or men mowe wyþ hem mysdo; Line 7236 For, þus seyþ þe oldë man Yn a prouerbe [forbysyn.] þat he can,

"Ȝyue þy chylde when he [hyt.] wyl kraue, And þy whelpe whyl hyt wyl haue, Line 7240 Þan mayst þou make yn a stounde A foulë chylde and a feyrë hounde." So mayst þou be enchesoun To make þy chylde a glotoun. Line 7244

A-nouþer vyce ys ȝyt to graunte, Þat rychë men mochyl haunte, Þat many one are so daungerous, [Compare the French lines 5811-16.] And oute of mesure esquaymous, Line 7248 Þat hys kokë may no day Greyþë hym hys mete to pay. Þat me þenkeþ a feble manere; A vylanye hyt ys to here; Line 7252 For euery coke wulde, at hys myȝt, hys lordës metë were wel dyȝt: wheþer hyt be lorde or lady, Me þenkeþ hyt ys a spyce of glotonye. Line 7256 hyt semeþ, were hyt at þy wyl, Ouer mesure þou wuldest þe fyl.

Rerë sopers yn pryuyte, with glotonye, echone þey be; Line 7260 And þyr ys mochë wastë ynne, And gadryng of ouþer synne. Þefte behoueþ þe sumdele þore, And glotonye algatë more; Line 7264 And leccherye ys quene or kyng; For hym ys all þat gaderyng.

Ȝyt are þer ouþer rere sopers, Line 7267 with men þat seruë knyȝtys and squyers; For al þe day þan wyl þey be Before here maysters yn soberte; But whan here maysters are broght to bedde, [folio 48b:2] Þan wyl þey fonde þat þey be fedde, Line 7272 And sytte vp þare wyþ recolage [rycolage.]

And ȝyt do mochë more outrage; To þe mydnyght ys but a þrowe, But hyt be, tyl þe cok krowe. Line 7276 Þese men are clumbë on a grece To glotonyë with þat spece.

Also fallë men yn plyght, Þat sytte vp [Þat sytte vp on þe Þursday nyght.] þe Þarsday at nyght. Line 7280 And ouerlong ete flesshe and drunke Aftyr þat mydnyght ys runge, Or fysshe or flesshe [Or whyte or fysshe.] þat suffreþ dede, Þat shulde on þe Fryday faste watyr & brede; Line 7284 Swych etyng þey shul sore abeye, But þey amende hem are þey deye. Þe Fryday nyght ys,—þys shalt þou leue,— Aftyr þe Þursday at eue; Line 7288 Þe nyght cumþ byfore þe day, Þat ys now of þe newë lay.

As y haue tolde of rere sopers, Þe same falleþ of erly dyners; Line 7292 Dyners are oute of skyl and resun On þe Sunday, or hye [ar hygh.] messe be doun. Þogh þou haue haste, here ȝyt a messe, Al holy, and no lesse, Line 7296 And nat symple, [symply.] a sakare, For hyt ys nat y-now [ynogh.] for þe, But hyt be for lordys powere, Or pylgrymage þat haþ no pere. Line 7300

Are þou oght ete, þys ys my rede, Take holy watyr and holy brede; For yn auenture kas, hyt may þe saue, Ȝyf housel ne shryftë þou mayst haue. Line 7304

Alle oþer tymes ys glotonye, But hyt be grete enchesun why. On oþer hygh dayys, [days.] ȝyf þat þou may,— Þogh þat hyt be nat Sunday,— Line 7308 Here þy messë ar þou dyne; [folio 49a]

Ȝyf þou do nat, ellys ys hyt pyne.

lordës þat haue prestes at wyl, Me þenketh þey trespas ful yl, Line 7312 Þat any day ete, are [ar.] þey here messe, But ȝyf ['ȝyf' omitted.] hyt be þurgh harder dystresse.

þe [Þese.] men þat are of holy cherche, Þey wetë weyl how þey shul werche; Line 7316 But swych y tellë hardyly, Þat swych a preste douþ [doþ.] glotonye, Þat [Þat O, Þe H.] leuyþ hys messe on þe auter [Written 'autere' first, and then the final e dotted out.] For to go to a dyner. Line 7320 So ne shuld he do, for no þyng, For loue ne awe of no lordyng, But ȝyf hyt were for a grete nede Þat shuld hym falle, or a grete drede. Line 7324

Now haue we tolde yn lytyl space how þat glotonye cumþ yn place On many maner dyuers wyse, And how we shul knowe allë þyse. Line 7328

Ȝyf any seþ hym so coupáble Þat yn þys ys custummáble, leuë hem, and do no more, And askë penauncë þarefore, Line 7332 And God ys curteys, and wul wele Forȝyue þe þy trespas euery dele. God graunte vs, for hys swete mercy, To kepe vs alle fro glotonye! Line 7336