XXXI.
[1]
Seli whilke wikenes forgiuen ere ai,
And whilke þaire sinnes hiled ere þai.
2
Seli man to wham noght wenes lauerd sinne,
Ne in his gaste swykedome es inne.
3
For .I. blan, mine banes elded ai,
Whiles .I. cried alle þe dai.
4
For ouer me, bathe dai and night,
Heuied es þi hand ofe might;
.I. am torned in mi sorw þar-forn,
Wiles þat pricked es þe thorn.
5
Mi gilt to þe schewed .I. made,
Mine vnrightwisnes and hid .I. ne hade.
6
.I. saide: “toward me sal .I. schriue
To lauerd mine vnrightwis liue”;
And þou forgaf þe mare and lesse
Of mi sinne þe wickednesse.
7
For þat, sal bid to þe with blisse
Al halegh in tideful time þat isse.
8
Bot of watres in strang cominge,
And to him sal þai negh nathinge.
9
Mi toflight ertou to be
Of drouinge þat vmgafe me;
Mi gladschepe, haue me þa fra
Þat me ere vmgiuand swa.
10
“Vnderstandinge gife to þe .I. sal,
And .I. sal lere þe; mare with-al
In wai whilke þou sal ga ine
Sal .I. fest on þe eghen mine.
11
Als hors or mule ne wil be made ane,
In whilke vnderstanding es nane;
12
In keuil and bridel þair chekes straite,
Þat þe noght neghen ne laite”.
13
Mikel sweping ouer sinful cliues,
Hopand in lauerd mercy vmgiues.
14
Faines in lauerd and glades in querte
And mirþhes, alle rightwise ofe hert
