MORALITEE.
DEre frendes, this Emperoure is the devil, that is kynge and̛ fadir a-bove al childerin̛ of pryde. By the first sone is vndirstonde the man, that dwellithe in a wickid̛ sitee or place, by the whiche a flavme of fire, scil. of synne, is stirte to him; & yit it is moche I-sene, that he hadde leuer brynne yn̛ synne withe hem̛, thanne Remeve from̛ the companye. By the secounde sonne is he vndirstonde, that knowithe welle him selve to be fastenid̛ in the cordes & bondes of synne, and̛ wolle not smyte hem̛ aweye with the swerde of his tonge; and̛ hadde leuer be hongid̛ for hem in helle, thanne to be shriven her̛. bi the thirde sone, vpon̛ whom̛ water dropis, boþ buþ of the riȝt ye & of the lyfte, is vndirstonde he that hurithe the doctrine of the ioyes of paradys, and̛ of the paynis & tormentes of helle, and̛ wolle not for slownesse of wytte torne him to the Right syde, scil. to leve synne, for love of the Ioyes, ne to the left, [The scribe has here by negligence repeated nearly four lines.] scil. to leeve synne, for drede of peynis, but lithe stille in