To do gode yn soulë werke.
Þys clerk was a lordyng, [[6-syllable line]]
Þe toþer was an husbunde þat lyued [husbund lyued O.] by hys þyng,
Line 6312
Þe þrydë was a marchaunde [marchound O.]
Þat boght and solde with cunnaunte. [cunnound O.]
Fyl auenture he deydë sone;
Þey dyd with hym þat was to done;
Line 6316
To þe erþë þey hym dyght,
For, þat was þe dedys ryȝt.
whan he was dede, forȝate þey noȝt
Þat al hys godë þey furþe broght.
Line 6320
Whan þey hadde gadred and a-countede [folio 42b]
Þrytty mark hys gode amounted;
hys vessel was ten mark wurþy, [wrþy O.]
and ten mark of pens redy,
Line 6324
and ten mark hys ouþer store:
Þus þey hyt set, and at no more.
Þys clerk seyd: "we are þre;
As y rede, so do shul ȝe:
Line 6328
Þys ychë man þat dedë ys,
y hope hys soulë be yn blys; [See John of Bromyard's Summa Predicantium (c. 1390, ed. 1485), Executor, E. viij. .xiiij. Exemplum: sicut patet, de executoribus, De quibus scribitur, quod, inter se tractantes de bonis defuncti, dixerunt quod mortuus ille, vel fuit in celo, & tunc bonis illis non indiget; vel in inferno, tunc ei non valerent; vel in purgatorio, & tunc sine illis liberaretur: finaliter, "Ergo," inquiuunt, "inter nos illa diuidamus, quia talibus indigemus."]
and ȝyf hys soulë yn blys be,
he haþ no nede of gold ne fe;
Line 6332
hyt may no more but be yn heuene,
þogh we ȝaue þys, and swych[ë] seuene;
And ȝyf hys soulë be yn helle,
Alle þe pens þat we mow telle,
Line 6336
ne alle þe prestes þat messe mow synge,
Mow nat hyt out of hellë brynge:
So, be hyt yn helle, or be hyt yn blys,
hyt haþ no morë nede of þys;
Line 6340
