(2)
¶ What is man of gret renoun,
That of hym self makeþ aldre mest?
Why settyst þou þy herte aȝen resoun,
And sodeynly repreuest hem mest?
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In þe dawenynge þou souȝtest hem vpsodoun.
Contrary to godis hest
Þou purchasest þy saule helle prisoun;
For fleschely lust, wormes fest.
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(3)
¶ How longe sparest þou me noȝt,
To swolwe my spotel, bote it me gryue?
Þou keper of men, alle þyng hast wroȝt;
What shal y do to þyn byhyue?
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What hastou set me contrarie þy þoȝt,
Þy holy lawe to repryue?
Lord, whenne my werkis mon be soȝt,
Dyspyce me noȝt in my myschyue!
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(4)
¶ Ful heuy to my self y am maad withynne;
My werkes, on me heuye isse.
Why takest þou noȝt away my synne,
And bere from me my wykednesse?
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I slepe in dust, for we ben kynne,
For erthe claymeȝ me for hisse.
To seche me eerly, ȝif þou begynne,
I ne may withstonde þe y-wisse.
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Lectio secunda: Tedet animam meam.
(5)
¶ My soul, of my self anoyed isse.
I shal leue my speche aȝens me.
To my soul y wole speke in bitternesse,
And y shal saye to god so fre:
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Wyl noȝt dampne me fro blisse,
Shew me þe cause, þat wolde I se,
Why demestou me þoȝ y dede mysse,
Lord, whether þe þynke good to þe.
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