He disseyueþ mon in mony þinges,
Line 1023
þorwh swete restynges;
A-noþur is Contek of worldli strif [Spec. adversitas, Th. tribulacyon]
Aȝeynes mon, doun hym to dryf.
Aȝeynes richesse mesure þe in tide,
Beo þou not risen to muche in pride:
Line 1028
Þat vertu is wiþ-outen distaunce
Þis þat men calleþ temperaunce.
Aȝeynes worldly cuntek and strif
Loke brennynge wille [Sp. audacia animi, Th. hardines] beo þe rif,
Line 1032
Þat þou beo not so feble boun
Þat þe world þe caste a-doun:
And þat vertue in brede and lengþe
Is þat þat is i-cleped strengþe.
Line 1036
Seuen werkes of mercy.
Afftur schaltou wite redili
Wȝuche ben seuen werkes of Merci.
Þe furste is, ȝiue þe hungri mete;
Þat oþur, drinke þe þrusti to gete;
Line 1040
Þe þridde, cloþe þe naked bi tymes;
Þe ffeorþe, to herborwe pilgrymes;
Þe ffyfþe, prisons to visyte swete;
Þe Sixte is, cumforte þe seke;
Line 1044
Þe seueþe, in certeyn place [Tob. 1, 20.] we rede,
Þat is to helpe burie þe dede.—
Þen maistou sey in tour and toun:
"I þat am in Religioun,
Line 1048
I naue no pouwer to ȝiue no mete,
Ne drinke ne herborwe to hem gete,
Ne cloþing to hem haue I non,
To visite prisones may I not gon:
Line 1052
I am in oþur monnes pouwer;
Þerfore me were beter seculer,
Þat I mihte do trewely
Alle þeose dedes of Mercy."
Line 1056
Þenk not þus, I rede þe,
Leste þou her-Inne deseyued be.
Betere hit is to þe in eueri toun
To haue pite and compassioun
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