Companion to the English prose works of Richard Rolle : a selection / from the edition by Carl Horstman.

Of þe seuene dedly synnes.

ÞE seuene dedli synnes ben þeose: Pruide, Wraþþe, Envye, Accidie, Couetise, Glotonie, and Lecherie. Pruide is loue of oune heiȝnesse; of him waxen þeose seuene Braunches: Vnbuxumnesse aȝeyn God and aȝeyn Souereyn, þat is to siggen: leuen þat is comaundet, or don þat is defendet. Þe secunde is Auauntynge: whon a Mon a-vaunteþ him of good þat he haþ of a noþer, or of an vuel þat he haþ of him-self. Þe þridde is Ypocrisye: whon mon makeþ him hauen good þat he haþ nouht, and hut þe wikkednesse þat he haþ. Þe ffeorþe is Despit: whon a mon blameþ a noþeres godnesse, for him-self scholde seme þe betere. Þe .v. is Arrogauns: whon mon makeþ comparison bitwene his wikkednesse and an oþures, so þat his may semen þe lasse. Þe .vi. is Boldnesse: whon he haþ no schome of open synne. Þe seuenþe is Elacion: whon Mon Ioyeþ of his wikkednesse. Þreo þinges ben wher-of mon haþ pruide: of godes þat he haþ of kuynde, as ffeirnesse, strengþe, god wit, cunrade. Þe secounde, of godes þat he haþ of purchas, as science, vertues, good loos, grace, or dignite. Þe þridde is, of worldliche godes, as cloþing, housyng, Rentes, Meyne, horsyng and oþer hauyng.—Off Envye [waxen]: ben glad of oþures harm, and sori of oþures goode; and þat mai ben in herte þorw wille, or in Mouþe þorw detraccion, or in dede þorw wiþ-drawyng of gode or procuryng of vuel. Off Ire waxen: manaces, vileyne wordes, scornynges, & Blasfemies. Off Accidie waxen: heuinesse, Malice, Whonhope, Necligence aboute godes comaundemens, bisi þouht aboute þinges defendet. Off Couetyse wexen: tresouns, ffals oþes, feble reste, and hard herte for to don dedes of Merci. Off Glotenie waxen: veyn gladnesse, Lecherie, fulþe, muche speche, and feble vnderstondyng. Off Lecherie woxen: Blyndnesse of herte, in preyeres vnstudefastnes, fol-hastinesse, loue of him-self, hate of god, loue of þis world, fere and wonhope of þe world þat is to comen. Þeose ben þe dedly synnes seuene; and wel ben I-callet dedly, ffor whi? þe þreo furste despoylen þe synful wrecche, and þe feorþe falleþ him doun, þe fyfþe casteþ him out, þe sixte deceyueþ him, þe seueþe puiteþ him in to vuel seruage. For whi? Pruide dispoyleþ mon of God, Envye of his broþer, Ire of him-seluen; Accidie him falleþ, Auarice þroweþ him out, Glotonye deseyueþ him, Lecherie put him in to þhraldam.