(402)
¶ ffor, and it horë, þis lande is but lost;
Line 2808
He þat our heede is, sore it shal repent;
And this tamend, axith no gretter cost
But to do lawe in no vengeáble entent,
Seye I; but for þe better, hem take and hent,
Line 2812
And punysshe hem by lawful riȝtwysenesse,
And suffre naght ich othir þus to oppresse.
Line 2814
(403)
¶ Smal tendirnesse is had now of our lawes;
Line 2815
ffor if so be þat oon of þe grete wattes
A dede do, which þat a-geyn þe lawe is,
No thyng at al he punysshid for þat is;
Riȝt as lop-webbys, flyës smale & gnattes [R has in margin, in another hand: "Unde Solon, unus de vij sapientibus. Lex est araníe tela, quia si incideret quid debíle, retinetur; grave autem pertransit, tela cissa.:"]
Line 2819
Taken, and suffre gretë flyës go,
ffor al þis worlde, lawe is now rewlyd so.
Line 2821
(404)
¶ The riche and myghty man, thogh he trespace,
Line 2822
No man seith onës þat blak is his eye;
But to þe pore, is denyed al grace;
He snybbyd is, and put to tormentrie;
He naght a-stirtë [asterte R, astirt H.] may, he shal a-bye;
Line 2826
He caught is in the webbe, & may naght twynne;
Mochil gode reule is sowe, & spryngith thynne.
(405)
¶ Of þis groweth strifë, bataille, and discorde, [folio 49a]
Line 2829
And by þe gretë, poër folk ben greuyd;
ffor he þat noble is of blode, and a lorde [lord R, a lorde H.]
In stile, and naght hath, sterid is, and meved
Vnto rapynë; þis is often preuyd;
Line 2833
Þe pore it felith. þus of lawë lak, [the lak R.]
Norysshith wrong, and castith riȝt a-bak.
Line 2835
