Passus Tercius. [Pass. iii. 9. Cf. Þe moste myschif on molde · Mounteþ vp faste; C. 1. 65.]
Now leue we þis beu brid · till I restore,
ffor mater þat my mynde · is meued in now,
That whi þe hie hertis · her hele so mysside,
Þat pasture axid · rith to here pure wombis;
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I wolle schewe as I sawe · till I se better,
And if I walke out of the wey · I wolle me repente.
Now herkeneth, hende men · how þat me thynkyth,
Sauynge souereynes · and sages avise,
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Þat þe moste myscheff · vppon molde on
Is demed þe dede · y-do aȝeins kynde.
Ȝit clereth þis clause · no þinge my wittis,
With-out more mater · what it mene wolde.
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I mene of þe hertis · þat hautesse of ȝeris,
Þat pasture prikkyth · and her preuy age;
Whan þey han hoblid on þe holte · an hundrid of ȝeris,
That þey ffeblen in ffleissh · in ffelle, and in bones,
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Her kynde is to keuere · if þey cacche myȝth
Adders þat harmen · alle hende bestis; [harmen; MS armen, with h supplied above the line.]
Þoru busschis and bromes · þis beste, of his kynde,
Secheth and sercheth · þo schrewed wormes,
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Þat steleth on þe stedis · to stynge hem to deth;
And whanne it happeth þe herte · to hente þe edder,
He putyth him to peyne · as his pray asketh, [Cf. as þe worlde askeþ; C. 1. 21.]
And ffedith him on þe venym · his ffelle to anewe,
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