(318)
¶ Litel encheson haþ he for to speke,
Line 2220
To whos wordës is [is R, om. H.] ȝeuen no credence:
Perillous is, [is it R.] a man his feith to breke.
ffeith, by necessite ne indigence
Naght artid is: disceyt, [disceyue H, disceyte R.] & apparence
Line 2224
Of trouthe outward, and inward fikilnesse,
Bulteth [Bulteth R.] out schame, and causeþ gret smartnesse.
(319)
¶ What was þe cause of þe destruccïoun
Line 2227
Of þe peple of Scites & of Arabiee,
But for hir kyngës, in decepcioun
Of men and Citees nyh to hir contre,
Hir othis vseden, by sotilte
Line 2231
Brekyngë bondës þat stablisshed were
Mankynde to profitë, and not to dere?
Line 2233
(320)
¶ And for þat synnë, goddës riȝtwisnesse,
Line 2234
That punnysshith falshood and trecherie,
Nat myghte hem suffre endure in þat woodnesse;
But þey destroyed were, it is no lye.
Vntrouthe, allas! þe ordre of chyualrie
Line 2238
Dampneth it; thogh þat þe persone it vse,
Knyghthode itself mot algate it refuse.
Line 2240
(321)
¶ To god truste I, no lord in al þis lond
Line 2241
Is gilty of þat inconuenience;
ffy! what? a lord breke his byheste or bond?
Nay, god forbedë þat that [such R.] pestilence
In a lord dwelle, or holdë residence; [folio 39b]
Line 2245
ffor if þat he that wicked geste recette,
By suche a lorde wole honour no thing sette.
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