And behette hem auauncement
To holden his comaundement —
Which man is it þat nolde
Gladliche his hestes holde,
Wiþ oute hous and wiþ inne,
His auauncement to winne?
And non auauncement þer nis
Aȝein þe blisse of heueñ ywis
Þat god haþ granted alle men
Þat holden his hestes ten.
Wel aughte boþe ȝong and olde
His comaundementz to holde!
Herkeneþ nou, ȝe lewede men,
Whiche beon þe hestes ten,
As it is founde in holy writ
Among þese clerkes deope in wit.
Þe forme comaundement ywis
And þe hyest, þat is þis.
We shole honoure ouer alle thing
Suete Iesu, heuene king,
Eche morw, whan we rise,
Begynne first in his seruise.
For beo he lewed man or clerk
Þat begynneþ any werk,
Er he serue þe king of myght,
He halt not þat heste aryght.
For who so gynne any thing,
Er he serue oure heuen king,
What man euere it beo ywis,
A gret tokenyng it is,
Þat he loueþ þat werk more,
Þan he doþ godes lore.
Þerfore eche man þat may
Serue god formest a day,
Er he do any oþer thing,
Þis is oure forme begynnyng.
Of godes hestes hered mot he worþe [folio 159]
Þat he lette us here in eorþe!
Oure euen cristen we shold loue,
As god hette þat sit aboue.
