(646)
¶ Thus may thy stylë likned be to thefte;
Line 4516
As a theef in þis world is hangid here,
ffor good whiche þat he of þe peple refte,
So schalt þou honge in helle, and bye it deere,
But if so be, or þou goo to þi beere,
Line 4520
Thow córrectë thy greedy appetyt, [folio 79b]
And of streit kepynge emptë þy delyt.
Line 4522
(647)
¶ The breed of hungry peple þou with-holdist, [¶ Item scrip|tum est. Esuriencium panis est quem tu de|tines; nu|dorum vesti|mentum est quod tu re|cludis.]
Line 4523
And schutest vp the nakid mennës cloth
That keuere hem sholde; if þou oght of god toldist,
ffor to doo so, þou woldest be ful loth.
Al þat þou getist, to hid place it goth.
Line 4527
As many men, hir good þow hem byreuest [¶ Iterum scriptum est, Tantoium ergo te scias inuadere bona, quan|torum de pos|sessione tua poteris sub|uenire, & non vis. Prouerbia|rum xxvij. Qui odit aua|riciam, longi fient dies eius.]
As þou releuë myghtest, and [and thou R.] it leuest.
Line 4529
(648)
¶ Who so þat fro þe poorë mannës cry [R. has "Prov. xxo. Qui obturat aurem suam ad clamorem pauperis, ipse clamabit, et non exaudietur."]
Line 4530
Stoppith his erës, þogh he lowdë crye,
Schal naght be herde; and more ouer, rede y,
His dayës schulle encresse & multiplie
That auerice hatith, þis is no lye.
Line 4534
Werse is no þing þan [than R, þat H.] to loue moneye, [¶ Ecclesias|tici x. Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam.]
As þat Ecclesiasticus can seye.
Line 4536
(649)
¶ Ambrosë seith, war, man, þat þou ne schitte [¶ Ambrosius de officiis. Caueas ne in|tra loculos tuos includas salutem in|opum, & tan|quam in tu|milo ne sepe|lias vitam pauperum.]
Line 4537
With-in þi purs þe nedy peples [peples R, peple H.] hele,
And to þe buriellës naght committe
The lyf of poorë men; ȝeue hem, & dele
Part of þi good; o, þy baggës vnsele;
Line 4541
Opne hem; hir knyttynge al to sore annoyeth;
Thy pynëd stuf, many a man destroyeth.
Line 4543
