Þat kepeþ þe vp whon þou schuldest falle.
·ffrom mony mischeues he con þe calle:
Whon þou art loren he þe fyndes,
Of Bondus of synne he þe vnbyndes;
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To þe deuel whon we were sold,
He Raunsound vs, boþe ȝonge & old;
Dedly synne whon þou hast don,
He vengeþ him not þer-on anon,
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But Corteisliche he þe abydes;
Þi schome & synne ȝit he hydes.
He blames þe whon þou dost mys,
And euere he techeþ þe, I-wys,
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In hungur & þurst he þe fedes,
Among þin enymys he þe ledes,
In hete and chele he þe refresches,
Slepyng, wakyng he þe redresses.
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Heron þou þenke boþe Euen & morn!
And eke, hou mony men han be lorn,
Boþe be water and londe also,
Þat God ne haþ not tendet to
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As to þe so bisyli.
And þerfore sei, "sire, graunt Merci," [The Spec. has a complete prayer, beg. Gratias ago tibi, &c.]
Whon þow be-þenkest þe day or niht
Hou god þe kepeþ wiþ-oute dispit
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In Bodi or soule, erli or late.—
Þus maiȝt þou knowe þin owne astate.
To loue god bi alle resoun
ffor þis fordede þou hast enchesoun.
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Þis þouȝt is Meditacion.
Now forþ to Contemplacion.
Of Contemplacion in creature.
Contemplacion is to seye:
Siht of god and his nobleye.
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Þat maiȝt þou se be þin Inwit
In creature, and in holy writ,
And siþen in his owne kynde.
Of þeose ȝif we wol haue good mynde,
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Þe nobleye of god [we se] in his werkes,
As men mowe seo, Lewed & Clerkes.
