(34)
¶ I sayde to stynke and rotenesse,
'My fader and moder arn ȝe;'
Line 268
And to wormes y sayde þysse:
'My systren and my brethern both be ȝe.'
And erthe claymeþ me for hysse,
Where þen now my bydynge to me.
Line 272
My felynge þou art, and my god of blisse.
Drede of deth droueth me.
(35)
¶ Eche a day synnyng,
And euere newe encres;
Line 276
Neuere a day blynnyng,
Bote euere vertue wane les. [[MS. waneles]]
To repente no bygynnyng,
Noȝt bote gadre synne ay in pres.
Line 280
In helle is no wynnyng,
Ne non aȝeynbyynge to pes.
Lectio octava: Pelli mee.
(36)
¶ My flesches ben wasted, don me refuse,
My bones cleuyn vnto þe skyn;
Line 284
My lippes arn shronken out of syse,
Aboute my teth arn left atwyn.
Haue mercye on myn werk vnwyse,
Haue mercie on me, let mercie wyn!
Line 288
Namly my frendes, me noȝt despyse;
Lordis hande hath towched me more and myn.
(37)
¶ Why pursue ȝe me, and on me syte,
And arn filled of my flesch and fel?
Line 292
Who ȝeueþ to me, þat wolde y wyte,
Wordes in boke be ered wel,
Or in a plate of led wryten
With an yren poyntel,
Line 296
Or in a flynt grauen and spyten
By craft of werk withoute chysel?
