(49)
¶ "I, man, was made to knowe my maker,
And to loue him aboue al oþir þing;
And y, a wrecche, was neuere waker
To catche kinde knowing of my kyng;
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To triflis y haue be a greet tent-taker;
A song of sorewe weel may I synge,
For hadde y of synne ben a verri forsaker,
Of crist schulde y haue had knowyng.
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(50)
¶ "Mi goostli iȝen ben ful of dust,
Cursid coueitise haþ so blyndid me,
Þei ben blood-schoten with fleischli lust,
Þat heuenly þingis may y noon se.
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But, lord, þouȝ y haue ben vniust, [page 209]
Ȝit þoruȝ þe help of þi benignite
I hope to rubbe aweye þe rust,
With penaunce, from my goostli yȝe;
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(51)
¶ "And where þat y haue to-forë þis
My witt in wordli þingis spende,
From hens forþward my purpos ys
To leerne þi lawe to my lyuës eende.
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Þi ten comaundementis, so haue y blis,
Them for to kepe, y wole me bende;
And þere as y haue a-fore doon mys,
Now, merci, God! y wole amende."
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(52)
(Christ's Seventh Complaint.)
"MAn, my merci, if þou it mynned, [God.]
Y haue schewid it þee on many wise
Siþen þat tyme was þat þou first synned
Aȝens my precept in paradijs.
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In helle prisoun whane þou were pynned
For doinge of þe deuelis deuyce,
Out of þat prisoun for to be twynned,
Mercy and loue þee halp; þinke on þese.
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