'and al hir hertes besynesse,
rather than on holynesse;
for which the kyng (iustly and wel,
that considereth euerydel) [Stowe folio 367b]
Line 23608
hem to quytë wil not cesse,
maketh their goodës to discresse;
and, for their pompe and their pryde,
Set her Richesse out a-syde,
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ámenusyng their substance,
their tresour and their hábundance,
Which made hem first their [[theyr St., the C.]] lord forsake.
'therfore he can it fro hem take
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Whan-euere he list, who lokë wel;
ffor the Prophete Ezechel [[ezechiell St.]]
Writeth, (who so taketh hede)
Idelnesse, plente of bred,
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caused (in conclusïoun)
of Sodom the distruccïoun.'
Pilgrim: [[St., om. C.]]
"I pray yov, telle on a-noon ryght,
She that halteth in my syght,
Line 23624
What is hir name, and hir offys,
of whom ye sette [[is set St.]] so litel prys?"
Grace Dieu: [[St., om. C.]]
'To make a playn discripcïoun,
She is called 'Abusïoun,'
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because, the good that god hath sent,
by hir thei ben wrongly dispent, [[spent St.]]
And ageyn his wul [[will St.]] abused;
Wherof she may nat ben excused. [folio 291a]
Line 23632
'She halt a rule of a masoun,
only by fals collusïoun;
for, to the rule that she is bounde,
(Whan the trouth is sough[t] [[known St.]] and founde,
Therto she haveth no reward,)
Line 23637
Hir hed ytourned is bakward;
Vnto the world she cast hir look,
Wich, vnder colour, she forsook.
Line 23640
'hir spon also doth signefye
the foulë vice of Glotonye,
