(752)
¶ This fauel is of pees a déstourbour;
Line 5258
Twix god and mannës [mannes R, man H.] soule he werrë reisith;
This worlde is blent by þis dissymulour;
Vertú he blameþ, ánd vicés he preysith;
Sore in þe bowe of treccherye he teisyth;
Line 5262
His shot is gay, but it is énvenymed;
His fikil art may nat a-ryght be rymed.
Line 5264
(753)
¶ Vertuouse trouthë, [trouthe R, trouth H.] hydë þou þine heede!
Line 5265
Þou mayst as wele, thyn art may nat a-vayle;
Out of þis worldës grace art þou as dede: [folio 93a]
But fauel, traitour! þi fals gouernaile
Makith ful manny shippës for to saile
Line 5269
In-to þi cofre; warme is þine office;
Þat trouthë [trouthe R, trouth H.] lesith, wynnë can þi vice.
Line 5271
(754)
¶ Alas! so manny a worthi clerk famóuse,
Line 5272
In Oxinford, and in Cambrigge also,
Stonde [Stonde R, Stode H.] vn-avancëd, wher the viciouse
ffauel hath chirches. & preuendres, [prebendes R.] moo
Þan god is plesid with; [with R, wit H.] alasse! of thoo
Line 5276
Þat weiuen vertu so to be [wernen . . . so to be R, weiuen (or weinen) . . . so be H.] promoted;
And þei helples, in whom vertu is rooted.
Line 5278
(755)
¶ The knyght or sqwier, on þat othir syde,
Line 5279
Or Ieman, þat haþ in pees or in werris
Dispent with his lorde his blode, but he hyde
Þe trouth, and [and R, an H.] can currey fauel, he nat þe nere is
His lordës grace; and vn-trouth ful fer is
Line 5283
ffrom him, þat worthy corage hath honóured;
Grace of his [his R, þis H.] lorde by fauel is deuóured.
Line 5285
