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

MORALITE.

To spekyn gostly, þis Emperour is þe fadir of hevene, þe whicℏ hatℏ sette up iij. ymagis in the temple of þis wordle, scil. poore men, wise men, and mygℏty men. This tiraunt signifietℏ Iusticis, sherrevis, and bailifs, And sucℏ as takitℏ away fro poore men and sympiƚƚ a ryng̘, scil. hire goodis; And þei seiytℏ, "may we not take hem, when thei ȝive vs hem;" For if a poor̛ man haue oȝt to do among hem, if þat he wolde be spedde, anoon he puttitℏ fortℏ his hond to ȝive hem. Also þei take away þe berd of Richesse, þat is,

when þat þei se a man gadery or purchesse, Thenne þei sey, "loo! he is a carle, And wolde be moore than his syr̛ was; late vs take fro him þe Richesse;" And so þei take awey þe berd̛ of Richesse, by cavillacions and shynyng̘ wordis. And by þe manteƚƚ I vndirstonde a man sette in hye dignite, whiche vsitℏ to correcte Ivel men and women; For þer woƚƚ shrewis arise ayenst him, and sey, þat he is to boistous to many, and to warme, And knowitℏ not him selfe, to woode by his power, and to coueitous; And þerfore sucℏ a man̛ þei accuse, And makitℏ him be deprivid of his office. And þerfore alle theise iij. maner of wickid̛ men shuƚƚ be dampnyd̛ to detℏ bi hire owen werkis, when þei come afor̛ þe Iuge. And þe Iuge, scil. criste, Amende vs alle, And send vs heuene blisse! Amen.