'Al old Rancour for to lete:
ffor, by record off the prophete [Mea est vlcio, & ego retribuam. Deutero|nomie (xxxii. 35).]
In hys Sawys that ben olde,
God hath to hym sylff with-holde
Line 1568
Vengaunce to hys Iugement;
And ther-fore, who that of entent [Camb. MS. reads: And therfor who so wole bineme it him, to yuel ende he may come, p. 10.]
Wyl wrastle ageyn yt, this the cheff [folio 26b] [[St. & C.]]
He shall not faylle to han mescheff.' [[St. & C.]]
Line 1572
Whanne Resoun hadde hyr talë told, [[St. & C.]]
The Vyker, that semptë wonder olde, [[Stowe MS.]]
Off whom I tolde yow nat in vayn [[St. & C.]]
Moyses [This is a red line, some one answering the preceding speaker. The Camb. MS. goes on: Whan resoun hadde thus spoken, the vicarie of whiche j seide bifore, answerde hire and seide, "Sey me, j praye you, if ye can, whi j haue thus myn hed horned and the yerde sharp at the eende? Is it not for to do punish|inge and correccoun of yuel dedes? j trowe j shulde putte and hurtle the yuel folk with myne hornes, and prikke hem," &c., p. 10.] [[Stowe MS.]]
Axed of Resoun thus agayn: [[St. & C.]]
Line 1576
'I pray yow that ye nat ne spare, [[St. & C.]]
The truthë clerly to declare,
The moralyte to obserue,
Wherof sholde myn hornys serve?
Line 1580
Thys staff ek, with the sharpë poynt,
Telleth me fro poynt to poynt,
Be they nat maad, by good resoun,
For punysshynge and Correccioun; [[St. & C.]]
Line 1584
Myn hornys, for to takë wrak [[St. & C.]]
On shrewës, & to putte abak?
And off my staff ek, with the prykke,
Chastysen folkys that be wykke,
Line 1588
Rather than lyk as ye me tolde
Her a-forn, how that I sholde
Enoynte hem with the oynement?
Wher-vp-on seyth your entent.'
Line 1592
Resoun Answereth:
'My fayrë frend,' quod tho Resoun,
'Tak hed in thy dyscrecioun;
