University of Virginia Library

Þe false schrewe onswerde þore
And bad hym sigge so nomore.
“Þou spekest of wraþþe in þi tale
And seist hit is aȝeyn soule-hale.
Þat is not soþ, but falshede;
Wraþþe was neuere synful dede.
Ȝif eny mon a-gult aȝeynes þe,
Smyteþ or elles puiteþ þe,
Oþer seiþ þat þe is him loþ:
Ne most þou þenne nedes be wroþ?
Ȝif Mon mis-seiþ þe or deþ þe schame:
Ȝif þou be wroþ, ho schal þe blame?
As he doþ bi þe, niȝt and day,
Quit him wel, ȝif þat þou may;
Ȝif þou mowe, worse; in eny wyse
Loke þou ȝelde him his seruyse;
Ȝif þou forberest O bisemare,
He wol ȝiue þe two ful ȝare.
Aȝeyn o word sei þou two
And mak him wroþ, ar þou go,
And spek wiþ hym baldeliche
And mis-seye hym schomefulliche!
Ȝif eny Mon þe mis-deþ,
Smyt þyn hond vnder his teþ,
Wiþ Swerd, Knyf, Staf or Ston
Lei on faste, and þat anon,
And bet him wel wiþ þe beste,
Þat his teþ al to-breste;
Or on þe hed ponne hard,
Þat he go wryȝinge þenneward.
Ȝif he is strong or of miht heiȝ,
Þat þou ne miht comen hym neiȝ,
Tac þe felawes þe by-syde:
Þe hardiloker maiȝt þou abyde,
And go sech him be wei and strete,
Stint þou nouȝt til þou him mete,
Lei on faste, spare no-þing,
To grounde sone þou him bryng,
Þat he þerfore grunte and grone;
And warne al oþere bi him one!
Þen may þi word springe ariht
Þat þou art hardi mon and wiht;
Alle men of þe þenne schule be fert
Þat bifore wolde mis-seye þe in þi bert;
Þenne miȝt þou go boþe quit and sker
Wher þou wolt, fer and neer.”