 | Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century |  |
279
PROVERBS AND MORAL SENTENCES.
181. See Much, Say Little, and Learn to Suffer in Time
Virtutem primam.
See much, sey lytill, and lerne to suffre in tyme;
empreynt thes thre yn thy remembraunce.
lyke as the mone chaungyth a-for the prime
so faryth thes world, replete with variaunce.
Oft lewyd langage causyth grete distaunce,
Werfor wyse Catoun seyth to old & ȝong:
‘the fyrst chefe vertu is to kepe owr tong.’
empreynt thes thre yn thy remembraunce.
lyke as the mone chaungyth a-for the prime
so faryth thes world, replete with variaunce.
Oft lewyd langage causyth grete distaunce,
Werfor wyse Catoun seyth to old & ȝong:
‘the fyrst chefe vertu is to kepe owr tong.’
Werfore, wold god thes fals tongys all—
meuyng and clappyng lyk to the leue of apse,
Woys dayly venym more byttur is than gall—
Were boundyn euerchon with a claps[e]!
Tyl trowth and temperance lust them to [vnhapse];
for fals detraccioun, lesyng & dysclaunder
Hath slay mor peple than dud kyng Alysa[under].
meuyng and clappyng lyk to the leue of apse,
Woys dayly venym more byttur is than gall—
Were boundyn euerchon with a claps[e]!
Tyl trowth and temperance lust them to [vnhapse];
for fals detraccioun, lesyng & dysclaunder
Hath slay mor peple than dud kyng Alysa[under].
Yf yn thes lyf thu woll encrese and eche
thyn worldly Ioy, thyn ese, and thyn wellfar[e],
Be wele avysyd at all tymes of thy [speche],
and saue the sure fro satan & hyse [snare].
Oft yll reportis engenderyth sorw[e and c]are;
Were-for in spekyng at no tyme [is] he ydill
That can hys tong at all tyme wysly bridill.
thyn worldly Ioy, thyn ese, and thyn wellfar[e],
Be wele avysyd at all tymes of thy [speche],
and saue the sure fro satan & hyse [snare].
Oft yll reportis engenderyth sorw[e and c]are;
Were-for in spekyng at no tyme [is] he ydill
That can hys tong at all tyme wysly bridill.
A lytell spark may set a towne a-fyre,
But wen it brennyth it is nought lyghly quey[nt].
On word myspoken may bryng the yn the myre
So depe y-wyss till thu theryn be draynt.
A fals tong may florysch weell & peynt
as for a cesoun, but euer the end ys schame;
And wo is hym hoys tong h[ath lost hys name].
But wen it brennyth it is nought lyghly quey[nt].
On word myspoken may bryng the yn the myre
So depe y-wyss till thu theryn be draynt.
A fals tong may florysch weell & peynt
280
And wo is hym hoys tong h[ath lost hys name].
lytill mellyng causyth [meche reste];
Ouer besy was [neuer] yit commend[able].
loke were thu art yn dowt, and deme the [beste];
Dele nogth with dowblenesse, ne be nogth desceyuable;
Rechelesse & racle [are] oft tymys repreuable;
Werfor, thysylf and thu wollt kepe fro crime,
See much, sey lytill & lerne to suffyre yn tym[e].
Ouer besy was [neuer] yit commend[able].
loke were thu art yn dowt, and deme the [beste];
Dele nogth with dowblenesse, ne be nogth desceyuable;
Rechelesse & racle [are] oft tymys repreuable;
Werfor, thysylf and thu wollt kepe fro crime,
See much, sey lytill & lerne to suffyre yn tym[e].
182. Think Before You Speak
What euer thowe saye A-vyse the well.
Almyȝty godde, conserue vs fram care!
Where ys thys worle A-way y-wente?
A mane that schold speke had nede to be ware,
ffor lytyl thynge he may be schente;
Tonggys beth y-turne to lyther entente,
Hertys they beth bothe fykel and felle.
Man, be-ware leste thow repente,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
Where ys thys worle A-way y-wente?
A mane that schold speke had nede to be ware,
ffor lytyl thynge he may be schente;
Tonggys beth y-turne to lyther entente,
Hertys they beth bothe fykel and felle.
Man, be-ware leste thow repente,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
A-vyse the, mane, yn whate place and whare
A woord of conseyl thow doyst seyne;
Sum mane may ley there-to hys ere—
Thow wenyst he be thy frend; he ys thy foo certeyne—
Paraventor aftyr A ȝere or tweyne—
Thow trowyst as tru as eny stele,—
Thys woord yn wreth thow schalt hyre A-gayne,
Whate euer thow sey A-vyse the welle!
A woord of conseyl thow doyst seyne;
Sum mane may ley there-to hys ere—
Thow wenyst he be thy frend; he ys thy foo certeyne—
Paraventor aftyr A ȝere or tweyne—
Thow trowyst as tru as eny stele,—
Thys woord yn wreth thow schalt hyre A-gayne,
Whate euer thow sey A-vyse the welle!
281
Meny mane spekyth yn hastenys,
Hyt hyndryth hym and eke hys frende;
Hym were well beter hys tonge to sese
Than they both there-for be schende.
Suche wordys beth not to be had yn meynde,
Hyt makyȝt comforte with care to kele:
Man, yn the begynnynge thenk on þe eynde;
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
Hyt hyndryth hym and eke hys frende;
Hym were well beter hys tonge to sese
Than they both there-for be schende.
Suche wordys beth not to be had yn meynde,
Hyt makyȝt comforte with care to kele:
Man, yn the begynnynge thenk on þe eynde;
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
To sum mane thow mayste tel a pryuy tale:
When he fro the ys wente A-way,
ffor a drawȝt of wyne other ale,
He woll the wrey, by my fay,
And make hyt worse—hyt ys noo nay—
Than euer hyt was, A thowsend dele.
Thys us my songe both nyȝt & day,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
When he fro the ys wente A-way,
ffor a drawȝt of wyne other ale,
He woll the wrey, by my fay,
And make hyt worse—hyt ys noo nay—
Than euer hyt was, A thowsend dele.
Thys us my songe both nyȝt & day,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
Be ware of bagbytynge, y the rede;
ley flaterynge vndyr thy foote,
Deme the beste of euery dede
Tyll trowth haue serchyd truly þe roote;
Rrefrayne malyce, cruell & hoote;
Dyscretly and wysly speende thy spelle;
Boost ne brage ys worth a Ioote;
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
ley flaterynge vndyr thy foote,
Deme the beste of euery dede
Tyll trowth haue serchyd truly þe roote;
Rrefrayne malyce, cruell & hoote;
Dyscretly and wysly speende thy spelle;
Boost ne brage ys worth a Ioote;
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
Dysese, wharre, sorowe and debate,
ys causyd ofte by venemys tonge;
Haddywyst comyth euer to late
Whan lewyd woordis beth owte y-spronge,
The kocke seyth wysly on hys songe,
‘Hyre and see and hold the stylle!’
And euer kepe thys lessoun A-monge,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
ys causyd ofte by venemys tonge;
Haddywyst comyth euer to late
Whan lewyd woordis beth owte y-spronge,
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‘Hyre and see and hold the stylle!’
And euer kepe thys lessoun A-monge,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
y dere well swery by the sonne,
Yf euery mane had thys woord yn thowȝt,
Meny thynggis had neuer be by-gunne
That ofte yn Ingelond hath be y-wroȝt.
The wyse mane hath hys sone y-tawȝtte:
‘Yn ryches, poorte, woo and welle,
Thys worthy reson for-ȝete thow noȝt,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!’
Yf euery mane had thys woord yn thowȝt,
Meny thynggis had neuer be by-gunne
That ofte yn Ingelond hath be y-wroȝt.
The wyse mane hath hys sone y-tawȝtte:
‘Yn ryches, poorte, woo and welle,
Thys worthy reson for-ȝete thow noȝt,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!’
Yf that thow wolte speke A-ryȝt,
Ssyx thynggis thow moste obserue then:
What thow spekyst, & of what wyȝt,
Whare, to wham, whye and whenne.
Thow noost how soone thow schalt go henne;
As lome be meke, as serpent felle;
In euery place, A-monge all men,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
Ssyx thynggis thow moste obserue then:
What thow spekyst, & of what wyȝt,
Whare, to wham, whye and whenne.
Thow noost how soone thow schalt go henne;
As lome be meke, as serpent felle;
In euery place, A-monge all men,
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
Almyȝty god yn personys thre,
With herte mylde, mekly y praye,
Graunte me grace thy seruant to be
Yn woorde and dede euer and aye!
Mary, modere, blessyd maye,
Quene of hevyn, Imperes of helle,
Sende me grace both nyȝt and daye—
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
With herte mylde, mekly y praye,
Graunte me grace thy seruant to be
Yn woorde and dede euer and aye!
Mary, modere, blessyd maye,
Quene of hevyn, Imperes of helle,
Sende me grace both nyȝt and daye—
Whate euer thow sey, A-vyse the welle!
Explicit.
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183. Counsels of Prudence and Patience
ffor þe bettur a-byde
I see A Rybane Ryche and newe,
Wyth stones and perles Ryally pyght,
Regalles, Rubies, Saffyres blewe;
The grownde was alle of brent gold bryght,
Wyth dyamandes full derely dyght;
Ryche Saladyneȝ sette on euery syde,
Wher-on was wrytyn A Resoun full Ryght,
And all was for the better A-byde.
Wyth stones and perles Ryally pyght,
Regalles, Rubies, Saffyres blewe;
The grownde was alle of brent gold bryght,
Wyth dyamandes full derely dyght;
Ryche Saladyneȝ sette on euery syde,
Wher-on was wrytyn A Resoun full Ryght,
And all was for the better A-byde.
Vppoun that Resoun I studyed þat tyde,
And ther-to toke I good entent,
How kynde wytte setteth sorow be-syde,
Wyth eche a mone ther he ys lent;
Good suffraunce ys full syldene schent,
Whene weyle and woo a-wey schun glyde;
Hasty mene often tymes harmes hent,
Whene they were bettere to A-byde.
And ther-to toke I good entent,
How kynde wytte setteth sorow be-syde,
Wyth eche a mone ther he ys lent;
Good suffraunce ys full syldene schent,
Whene weyle and woo a-wey schun glyde;
Hasty mene often tymes harmes hent,
Whene they were bettere to A-byde.
I haue harde sungone wyth a harpe,
That haste mene sholde wante no woo;
They kone notte shylde heme fro showres scharpe,
Nayther kene here freende frome here foo.
Sum mene says þat hyt ys soo,
Who-so kone suffer, heyle, and hyde,
May haue hys wyll ofte tyme y-doo,
And he wyll for the better A-byde.
That haste mene sholde wante no woo;
They kone notte shylde heme fro showres scharpe,
Nayther kene here freende frome here foo.
Sum mene says þat hyt ys soo,
Who-so kone suffer, heyle, and hyde,
May haue hys wyll ofte tyme y-doo,
And he wyll for the better A-byde.
He that wyll not drede no schame
Ys putte owte of mone & oneste place;
Let neuere thy tonge defowele thy name,
But be kynde and trewe in euery case;
And pray to god to gyffe the grace
In lond, where-sere thow goo or Ryde,
All wyked werdes A-way to chase,
And euer more for the better a-byde.
Ys putte owte of mone & oneste place;
Let neuere thy tonge defowele thy name,
But be kynde and trewe in euery case;
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In lond, where-sere thow goo or Ryde,
All wyked werdes A-way to chase,
And euer more for the better a-byde.
And thy luffe be yn a place,
Haue hyt in mynde & holde þe styll;
A foles bolt ys sone schote in case,
Whoo speketh mykyll sum he most spylle;
Lette neuere þy luffe be on an hylle,
Ner thy councell at þe crosse be cryde;
Lette but fewe mene wytte þy wylle,
And euere more for þe better A-byde.
Haue hyt in mynde & holde þe styll;
A foles bolt ys sone schote in case,
Whoo speketh mykyll sum he most spylle;
Lette neuere þy luffe be on an hylle,
Ner thy councell at þe crosse be cryde;
Lette but fewe mene wytte þy wylle,
And euere more for þe better A-byde.
ffor the best þu holde the stylle
And for þe bettere þy spech þu spende;
Though þu haue not to-day þy wylle,
Thy wyll to-morowe god may þe sende;
Grucche not agayne hyme, y þe defende,
ffore pouerte or sekenes in any tyde;
Godde wyll see tyme and hyt amende,
And euer more for þe bettere A-byde.
And for þe bettere þy spech þu spende;
Though þu haue not to-day þy wylle,
Thy wyll to-morowe god may þe sende;
Grucche not agayne hyme, y þe defende,
ffore pouerte or sekenes in any tyde;
Godde wyll see tyme and hyt amende,
And euer more for þe bettere A-byde.
I haue wyste mene in prysoun be caste,
And lyve ther-in sex yere or seuene;
And ȝyt be holpene owte at þe laste,
ffor ofte mene mete at vn-sette steuene;
Wyth freend & foo god makes euene,
That for vs suffered woundes wyde;
And brynge vs to þe blysse of heuene,
ffor the better ther euer to A-byde.
And lyve ther-in sex yere or seuene;
And ȝyt be holpene owte at þe laste,
ffor ofte mene mete at vn-sette steuene;
Wyth freend & foo god makes euene,
That for vs suffered woundes wyde;
And brynge vs to þe blysse of heuene,
ffor the better ther euer to A-byde.
Explicit.
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184. Every One Finds His Match
There is non so wise a Man But he may wisdam leere,
And ther is none so stronge a man But he may fynde his peere,
Nor there is none so false a man But sum man wil hym leeve,
And there is none so meke a man But sum man may hym greve.
And ther is none so stronge a man But he may fynde his peere,
Nor there is none so false a man But sum man wil hym leeve,
And there is none so meke a man But sum man may hym greve.
There is no man so myghty but som man may hym dere,
Nor no man so witte but some man may hym lere,
Nor no man is so variaunt but som man wil hym leve,
Nor no man is so pacient but some man may hym greve.
Nor no man so witte but some man may hym lere,
Nor no man is so variaunt but som man wil hym leve,
Nor no man is so pacient but some man may hym greve.
185. Neither Too Humble Nor Too Proud
lord, how scholde I roule me of al men I-preysed to be.
If y halde the lowe A-syse
And take a-ray of lytel pryse,
Then men wil say, ‘he ys nowȝt wyse,
He ys a fow, let hym be!’
And take a-ray of lytel pryse,
Then men wil say, ‘he ys nowȝt wyse,
He ys a fow, let hym be!’
And ȝyf I take the mene Astate
& wyth non man maky debat,
Than men wil sey, erly & late,
That I am worth no maner fe.
& wyth non man maky debat,
Than men wil sey, erly & late,
That I am worth no maner fe.
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And yf y take gryte A-ray,
Hors & hondes & clothes gay,
Than men wel say euery day
That I passe my degre.
Hors & hondes & clothes gay,
Than men wel say euery day
That I passe my degre.
Then take thow hede of the oxe,
Go nowȝt to lowe for the ffoxe,
Nether to hey tyl thow be wox,
ffor the kyte that wolde they sle.
Go nowȝt to lowe for the ffoxe,
Nether to hey tyl thow be wox,
ffor the kyte that wolde they sle.
Ther-for loke that thow be scley,
ffor no thyng hew thow tow hey,
last they falle don in-to thy ey,
The spones that Above they be.
ffor no thyng hew thow tow hey,
last they falle don in-to thy ey,
The spones that Above they be.
186. Measure is Best of All Things
In a semely someres tyde,
Als I gan walke in a wilde woude,
Vndre a bowe I sawe a-byde
A company of clerkes gude;
In a stody als þai stode
Þus þai gan mene in þaire spekynge:
‘In ilke manere of mans mode
Mesure is best of all thynge.’
Als I gan walke in a wilde woude,
Vndre a bowe I sawe a-byde
A company of clerkes gude;
In a stody als þai stode
Þus þai gan mene in þaire spekynge:
‘In ilke manere of mans mode
Mesure is best of all thynge.’
Crist þat all thynge has vndre cure,
Heuene & erthe and also helle—
All he made vndre mesure,
As holy writte wytnes welle.
Þu spare no pont of þaire spelle,
Bot leue wele in þis lernynge;
And take þis tale as I þe telle,
Þat mesure is best of all thynge.
Heuene & erthe and also helle—
All he made vndre mesure,
As holy writte wytnes welle.
287
Bot leue wele in þis lernynge;
And take þis tale as I þe telle,
Þat mesure is best of all thynge.
To litill or to gret excesse,
Bothe arne wike and vicyous
And greue god bothe, as I gesse,
ffor bothe þe partise arne perillouse;
Þen were a mene full vertuouse
And proued prisse in prechynge,
And þer-fore, bothe in hille & house,
Mesure is best of all thynge.
Bothe arne wike and vicyous
And greue god bothe, as I gesse,
ffor bothe þe partise arne perillouse;
Þen were a mene full vertuouse
And proued prisse in prechynge,
And þer-fore, bothe in hille & house,
Mesure is best of all thynge.
God graunt þat his grace so grete
Be wele mesured till ilka man;
And to his grace he take hym mote,
With crafte to kepe hym as he kan.
Be wele mesured till ilka man;
And to his grace he take hym mote,
With crafte to kepe hym as he kan.
187. Inordinate Love Defined
Dicam quid sit Amor: Amor est insania mentis,
Ardor inextinctus, insaciata fames,
Dulce malum, mala dulcedo, dulcissimus error,
Absque labore quies, absque quiete labor.
Ardor inextinctus, insaciata fames,
Dulce malum, mala dulcedo, dulcissimus error,
Absque labore quies, absque quiete labor.
The furyosite and wodnes of mynde,
A instynguyble brennyng fawtyng blys,
A grete hungre ynsaciat to fynde,
A dowcet ylle, a yvell swetness blynde,
A ryght wonderfulle sugred swete erroure,
Wyth-owte labor rest, co[n]trary to kynde,
Or wyth-owte quyete to haue huge laboure.
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188. What Profiteth this World's Labour?
Long wilbe, water in a welle to keche,
A vessell made of yerdis that wil nat holde.
No wounder is it, though it be leche;
To fille another, I note how it shulde.
Right so thus this worldis labour wolde
Man to gadre goode and grete Riches,
But ware of th'ende to hym be no distresse.
A vessell made of yerdis that wil nat holde.
No wounder is it, though it be leche;
To fille another, I note how it shulde.
Right so thus this worldis labour wolde
Man to gadre goode and grete Riches,
But ware of th'ende to hym be no distresse.
Who-so that in suche a vessel these tranes shulde,
Rest he ne may, day nother nyght,
Ete nor drynk whan that they wolde,
Therfor in labour thus they do her myght.
Right so this worlde wylle that euery maner wight
Goode to gete in trowth from oure to oure,
That in tyme of nede hem to help and socoure.
Rest he ne may, day nother nyght,
Ete nor drynk whan that they wolde,
Therfor in labour thus they do her myght.
Right so this worlde wylle that euery maner wight
Goode to gete in trowth from oure to oure,
That in tyme of nede hem to help and socoure.
Goode god! what doth this occupacioune?
We trow thus to level the see—
It may nat be by none ymagynacoune!
But the world wil it, as ye may se,
That in yowth euery man laboryous to be
To gadre Riches, hym to supporte and vpholde
In age, whan he wexith fieble and holde.
We trow thus to level the see—
It may nat be by none ymagynacoune!
But the world wil it, as ye may se,
That in yowth euery man laboryous to be
To gadre Riches, hym to supporte and vpholde
In age, whan he wexith fieble and holde.
189. A Song of ‘Goods’
While þou hast gode & getest gode,
for gode þou miȝt be holde;
Who haþ no gode, he can no gode—
a gode man so me tolde.
Hit is noȝt gode for no gode
of gode forto be bolde;
But þi gode to god be gode
þi gode wil fail & folde.
Wiþ an .v. & an .I. gode wil come & goo,
but þi godes grounde be gode, þi gode wil worche þe woo.
for gode þou miȝt be holde;
Who haþ no gode, he can no gode—
a gode man so me tolde.
289
of gode forto be bolde;
But þi gode to god be gode
þi gode wil fail & folde.
Wiþ an .v. & an .I. gode wil come & goo,
but þi godes grounde be gode, þi gode wil worche þe woo.
That is gode þat doth man gode
When he goth to þe grave;
Oþer gode was neuer gode,
but gode þat wil man save.
Ȝif þi gode while þou hast gode,
gode þan miȝt þou crave;
ffor hit is gode to worche gode
for god þat doth hit have.
With an .v. & an .I. gode is gode to wisse,
for with gode þou miȝt be gode, & bygge hevene blisse.
When he goth to þe grave;
Oþer gode was neuer gode,
but gode þat wil man save.
Ȝif þi gode while þou hast gode,
gode þan miȝt þou crave;
ffor hit is gode to worche gode
for god þat doth hit have.
With an .v. & an .I. gode is gode to wisse,
for with gode þou miȝt be gode, & bygge hevene blisse.
To doo gode god ȝaf þe gode,
for þi gode & noȝt hisse;
Doo gode for þi sowle gode,
& þat is gode ywisse;
If þou hast gode & dost no gode,
þat gode is gon amisse;
for evil gode is cleped gode,
for wham man left his blisse.
Wiþ an .v. & an .I. gode is þat gode doth,
oþer gode was neuer gode for certeyn & forsoth.
for þi gode & noȝt hisse;
Doo gode for þi sowle gode,
& þat is gode ywisse;
If þou hast gode & dost no gode,
þat gode is gon amisse;
for evil gode is cleped gode,
for wham man left his blisse.
Wiþ an .v. & an .I. gode is þat gode doth,
oþer gode was neuer gode for certeyn & forsoth.
A sliper gode is erthli gode,
for þat gode wil away;
goddis gode is euer gode,
& oþer gode is fay;
ken þi gode & know þi gode
& doo gode wel alway,
for hit is gode to worch gode
for gode þat lasteth ay.
With an .v. & an .I. in gode is gode ende,
for al is gode which endeis gode & þerto Crist vs sende.
for þat gode wil away;
goddis gode is euer gode,
& oþer gode is fay;
290
& doo gode wel alway,
for hit is gode to worch gode
for gode þat lasteth ay.
With an .v. & an .I. in gode is gode ende,
for al is gode which endeis gode & þerto Crist vs sende.
Amen.
190. The Law of Kind
Leerne, þou vnkynde man, to be kyndeof a beest þat haþ no skille of kynde.
Hou þou doist schame to þi kynde,
but þou to ihū crist be kynde!
191. For Each Inch God Will Requite Thee a Span
Sen trew vertew encressis dignytee,
and wertew floure and rut is of noblay,
Of ony weill, of quhat esstat yow bee,
His steppis sew, and dreid the non affray:
Exill all wyce and folow treuthe al-way:
Luf most thi god, that fyrst thi lust begane,
And for ilk ynch he wyll the quyte a spane.
and wertew floure and rut is of noblay,
Of ony weill, of quhat esstat yow bee,
His steppis sew, and dreid the non affray:
Exill all wyce and folow treuthe al-way:
Luf most thi god, that fyrst thi lust begane,
And for ilk ynch he wyll the quyte a spane.
[Be not our prowde of thy prosperitie;
ffor as it cumis so will it pass away.
The tyme to compt is schort, thow ma weill se;
ffor of grene gres sone cumis wallowit hay.
Labor in trewth quhill licht is of the day;
Trust most in god for he best help the can
And for ilk inche he will the quyt a span.]
ffor as it cumis so will it pass away.
291
ffor of grene gres sone cumis wallowit hay.
Labor in trewth quhill licht is of the day;
Trust most in god for he best help the can
And for ilk inche he will the quyt a span.]
Sen Word is thrall and thot is only free,
þow dant thi twnge, that powar has & may.
Thow set thine Ene fra warldly vanitee;
restren thi lust, and harkyne quhat I say:
Stramp or yow slyd, and crep furth one the way;
Kep thi behest one-to thi lord, and thane
ffore ilk ynch he wyll the quyt a spane.
þow dant thi twnge, that powar has & may.
Thow set thine Ene fra warldly vanitee;
restren thi lust, and harkyne quhat I say:
Stramp or yow slyd, and crep furth one the way;
Kep thi behest one-to thi lord, and thane
ffore ilk ynch he wyll the quyt a spane.
192. The Summum Bonum
The law of god be to þe thy rest,The flesh þy sacrifice, þe world exile,
God thi love & thi tresour best,
Hevyn þi cintre thorogh euery while.
Repentaunce þou take In-to þi brest
for þyn vnkynnesse & wikkidnes vile,
And abide at þi selff withinne þi nest
lest vndir pite thow be trappid with gile,
Except at som-while as a hasty gest
Þu stert to do good but thorogh no long mile.
Haue do, glutoun, fle to this fest!
for here-In of al wynnyng lyth crosse & pile.
| Religious Lyrics of the XVth Century | |