XXI. A lernyng to good leuynge.
[Digby 102, leaf 121, back.] [20 stanzas of 8, abab, abab.]
(1)
POre of spirit, blessed be:
Þouȝ he be lord of richesse fele,
He bereþ penaunce and pouerte.
That of his good to pore folk dele,
Line 4
Of þe kyngdom of heuene a lord is he.
Þat counseyleþ wel to soule hele,
And lyueþ in werkis of charyte,
Suche folk to heuene preuyly stele.
Line 8
(2)
¶ Siþ god doþ blisse, and graunteþ blis
Þat don his word, and holde it trewe,
Þan þat man cursed is,
Þat lyueþ contrarious þat vertue.
Line 12
Þat filleþ his herte wiþ ryches,
Nedeles aueryce gadryng newe,
For wikkid counseil, helle is his,
Þere neuere nes reste, but euere remewe.
Line 16
(3)
¶ Blessid be man þat in herte is mylde,
Buxom to lerne, and lef to teche,
Shal owe þe [folio 122a] erþe, and þeron bylde,
In helpe of mony his rychesse reche,
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Of shrewes, make goddis childe,
Of gostly woundes, be soule leche;
Make tame to god, þo þat were wylde.
Of eche good lyuere, his werkis preche.
Line 24
(4)
¶ Þanne cursed be man in herte ruyde,
Þat neuere nel lere ne vnderstond.
Þouȝ he owe erþe, he shal not byde,
Til it be, out of his hond.
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