Robert of Brunne's "Handlyng synne".

The Secunde poynt of shryfte.

þe secunde poynt ys next þyr-by, 'þat þou shalt shryue þe hastyly;' For whan þou doust [dost hyt.] yn longe respyte, hyt ys forȝete, þat long ys olyte. Line 11376 Seynt Bernard þarfore, to swych chyt, And seyþ 'moche forȝyt, þat longe abyt.'

Anouþer skyl ys, þat þou shalt hyt haste, For yn þy synne þy lyfe ys waste; Line 11380

Line 11380 For, as moche as þe tyme doþ amounte, For euery oure, shalt þou ȝelde acounte, Ȝyf hyt so were, þou myȝtest had space, [folio 75b:2] And wuldest nat come to shryfte ne grace.

Ȝyt, þyr ys þe þred resun [See French, l. 9719, &c. last page.] Line 11385 þat hastyly shal þy shryfte be doun; For yn þat tyme þat þy synne [synne O, shryfte H.] ys, Þou art departed fro heuene blys, Line 11388 And fro alle þe felawrede Þat shulde þe helpë at þy nede, And fro þe preyers of holy cherche, And fro alle gode dedes, þat men þer werche; Alle þe prayers, with-outë fayle, Line 11393 To þe blys of heuene, þe mow nat auayle.

Algate y rede, þou do gode dede; To ryse fro synne, hyt wyl þe spede, Line 11396 And bettyr wyl hyt pay God almyȝt, And þy penaunce shal be þe more lyȝt, And, þe more grace shalt þou haue, Þe for to shryue and saue. [[6 syll.]] Line 11400