[LIII.]
(THE MORAL LESSON TAUGHT BY THE ANTS.)Addit. MS. 9066.
[leaf 61 back (cont'd)]
Pissemers in somere are besy, and̛ rennyn̛ faste aboute to make an hepe stuffed̛ with whete, with the which they mow leuyn̛ in wyntere. but when they han̛ aƚƚ gadered̛, there comyth some tyme swyne, and̛ distroyen it, and̛ wastyn̛ it, and̛ Eten it ofte sithes. Right so ofte sithes many riche men̛ gaderyn̛ richesse; but some tyme comyn the kynges mynysters, or of̘ lordes, or othere rauenours, that ben Eyres and̛ executores, and̛ wastyn, and̛ distroyen̛ that they han̛ gadered̛. As dauid̛ seith in the sawter, swich men leuyn̛ theyre richesse to othere; and̛ also he seithe, they tresoryn and̛ hepyn, they wote nere to whome they gaderyn̛ hem; and̛ therfore haue they no profite of hem, no more than the pissmers haddyn̛ of here longe gaderynge. Amen &c.