Early English versions of the Gesta Romanorum / edited by Sidney J.H. Herrtage

MORALITEE.

DEre frendes, this Emperoure is to vndirstond̛ Crist Ihesu, þe whiche ouer al oþer lovithe [leaf 169, col. 1] huntyng of soulis; & in his hunting

he be-holditℏ a man, scil. priuitees of the herte. Þe man that flethe is a synner; the vnycorne is the dede, whiche that euer folowithe the man, for to kylle him, as it is I-seyde, 2 Regum. Omnes morimur, Alle we dye. this diche is the worlde; the tree in the diche is the lyfe of man in the worlde, the whiche lyf bethe þe ij. trees blak & white, scil. ij. tymes nyght & day Roggyd̛ downe & consumyd̛ the tree. Þe place wher comithe oute iiij. frogges is the body of man, froo the whiche comithe iiij. qualites of humours, by the whiche iiij. sett to-geder inordinately, þe ymage [of] þe body is dissoluid̛. the dragon̛ is the devil; the pitte is helle; þe swetnesse is delectacion̛ in synne, by the wiche a man is I-blent, that he may not be-holde hye perilis; the frend̛ that Rechithe the laddir is Criste, or a prechoure, that prechithe in the name of Criste; the ladder̛ is penaunce. And̛ when a man delayithe for to take that ladder̛, For delectacion̛ þat [he] hathe in the worlde ofte tyme, he Fallithe sodenlye in to the movthe of þe deville, scil. that is to sey, in to his power̛ in heƚƚ, wher the devil devourithe him; of whiche devovringe is none hope ne truste to passe, [as] hit is I-seyde in the salme, Spes impiorum peribit, þis is to seye, the hope or the truste of wickid̛ men shaƚƚ perisshe. Ideo studeamus &c.