(3)
¶ I lykne þe nekke, moche of myȝt,
Þat body and heued to-gydre knyt,
To a Iustice þat demeþ ryȝt;
For, þurgh it, comeþ all wordis of wyt.
Line 20
ȝif a man take ordre of knyȝt,
Þe coler in þe nekke het;
And feloun forfete in þefte or fyȝt,
Þe iugement in þe nekke set.
Line 24
(4)
¶ Now I lykne mannys brest,
To presthod in good degre,
Most in perile, lest in rest
For besynesse in spiritualte;
Line 28
In penaunce and in preyer prest;
Meke of spirit in pouerte
Holde hospytal to goddis gest, [folio 114b]
And fede þe pore in charyte.
Line 32
(5)
¶ Þe shuldres and þe bakebon,
I likne to lordis of þe lond;
Þe armes, to knyȝtes, to fende fro fon;
Þe squyers, I likne to þe hondes;
Line 36
Þe fyngres, to ȝemen þat byfore gon
Wiþ bent bowes and bryȝt brondes.
While all þys lymes arn wel at on,
Þe body, in good plyt it stondes.
Line 40
(6)
¶ Mannys rybbes, y likne now—
Flesch and skyn in body hydes,—
To men of lawe is to alow,
Þat kepes in loue boþe sydes.
Line 44
Rybbes, to resoun þouȝ þey bow,
So lawe doþ: ofte in fauour bydes,
Tyl ground be souȝt þere lawe doþ grow,
Ende in charite, þat no man chydes.
Line 48
