Þan myght þey wytë [wete OD.] redly
what [redily; qwat D.] shamë þat þey were wurþy,
Line 2140
And swych grace myȝt god [god myȝt D.] hem sende
Þat þey, þurgh þys myȝt [myȝte þorwh þis D.] hem amende.
A [O om. A.] þefë to hys þefte haþ [in to þ. hath alwey D.] rape,
For he weneþ euer-more for [more HO, om. D; for HD, om. O.] to skape;
yn þat hope he doþe hys euyl,
Line 2145
And al ys [is þe OD.] entycement of þe deuyl.
Þarefore beþenke þe wel [weyl, man O, man wel D (om. þarfore).] with-ynne
Þat þefte ys cumbrement [encumbrement D.] of synne.
Line 2148
Ȝyf a man make a chylde oght [owht a child to D.] stele,
Swyche styl [stylle O, stille D.] þefte shal he nat hele;
A þefte hyt ys, ȝyf þou do so,
To tyse [tyce O, teche D.] a chylde swyche synne to do.
Or ȝyf þou euer stale a [þou stele ony D.] chylde aweye,
yn swychë þefte ys grete affraye. [it is gret fray D.]
yn þys twey þynges and yn þys [Of þese to þingis & of swych D.] fame
Are wymmen mochë for [arn many women meche D.] to blame.
Line 2156
For þey haue [han D.] cumlyngys yn and oute;
Of swyche shuld men haue [han D.] gretë [gret OD.] doute.
Þey shul neuer weyte but wo,
Swychë cumlyngys, to ne [sueche . . and D.] fro,
Line 2160
Þey are wurþy to be shent
yn þys yche [ilke D.] comaundëment.
Ȝyf þou brake euer any kyrke [O. gloss. 'cherche,' werk D.]
On day, or yn [on O.] nyȝt, yn myrke, [day or nyȝt in þe merke D.] [derke]
Line 2164
Þou art a-cursed, þou wostë [wost OD.] weyl,
And hange were wurþy [& wurþi to hangen vp D.] on a peyl.
