¶ And here bygynneth þe Secounde Nounes tale / [[No gap in the MS.]]
[THE PROEM.]
(1)
THe minister and þe norice vnto vices
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which þat men clepe in englisch ydelnesse /
The porter at þe gates is of delicis
To eschiewe and by her contrary hire oppresse
That is to say by leful besynesse /
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wel oughte we to do al oure entente
Lest þat þe fend þurgh ydelnesse vs hente /
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(2)
For he þat wiþ his þousand cordes slye /
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Continuelly vs wayteth to byclappe/
whan he may man in ydelnes espye /
He can so lightly cacche him in his trappe /
Til þat a man be hent right by þe lappe /
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He is nouȝt war þe fend haþ him in honde /
wel oughte we wirche and ydelnes wiþstonde /
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(3)
And þough men dredde neuer for to deye
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Ȝet seen men wel by resoun douteles
That ydelnes is roten sloggardye
Of which þer comeþ neuer good encres
And sin þat slouþ her holdeþ in a lees
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Oonly to sleep and for to ete and drynke
And to deuoure al þat oþer swynke
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