Þis þing is I-ȝiuen þen
Boþe to Aungel and to men.
Line 440
Stones noþing may þei feele,
Ne grases, and ȝit lyue þei [sc. grases] wele;
Bestes lyuen and feleþ þe;
Mon lyueþ and waxeþ as doþ þe tre,
Line 444
And as a Best feeleþ, he doþ,
And resun as Angel haþ he soþ.
Þenk þou on þat dignite
To creature of Mon is ȝiue so fre,
Line 448
Hou þat his ȝift wiþ honoures
Sormounteþ alle oþur Creatoures.
Þerfore seiþ Austyn þus fol riht:
"I nolde ben Aungel, þeiȝ I miht,
Line 452
Heore stat wolde I forsake þan
ffor þat stude was purueyed for man."
ÞEnk also, Mon is worþi
Gret schenschipe, witerli,
Line 456
Þat wol not liue at godus wille
And his Comaundemens folfille,
Whon alle Creatures þat ben and were
Ben ordeynd for monnes mestere.
Line 460
Þe goode bestes [r. creatures] þat meke beo þon,
Beoþ maad for þreo þinges for mon:
ffor to helpen vs wiþ-outen fayle,
As schep, hors, kuyn, in vre trauayle;
Line 464
And vs to feede, [r. hyde? cf. MS. Thornt.] and vs to cloþe,
As leþer, fflesch [r. flax (Th. lyne).] and wolle boþe, [2 vv. om.? cf. MS. Thornt.]
As Corn on eorþe and foules to be
And also ffissches in þe Séé.
Line 468
Þe nuyȝing graȝes [= grases] and bestes venimous
Ben ordeynd for þreo þinges to vs:
ffor chastisyng, and amendement,
And for techyng wiþ good entent.
Line 472
Chatised and punissched we ben in route
Whon we ben hurt, and in such doute; [i.e. in doubt of being hurt]
And þat is ful derworþli
Of Godus owne grete merci—
Line 476
Þerfore bodili he com
To Chastise vs, boþe god and Mon, [MS. Th.: And þat es gret mercy of Godde þat he will chasty vs bodyly þat we be noght punescht lastandly.]
