Passus septimus decimus


I am spes quod he a spye · and spire after a knyȝte
That toke me a maundement vpon þe mounte of synay
To reule alle rewmes with · I bere þe writte here
Is it asseled I seyde · may men se þi lettres
Nay he sayde I seke hym · þat hath þe sele to kepe
¶ And þat is crosse and crystenedome · and cryst þere-on to hange
And whan it is asseled so · I wote wel þe sothe
Þat Lucyferes lordeship · laste shal no lenger
Late se þi lettres quod I · we miȝte þe lawe knowe

¶ Þanne plokked he forth a patent · a pece of an harde roche
Wher-on was writen two wordes · on þis wyse yglosed
Mat .xxiiCr2.17.13: Fol. Z.3r, right margin.Mat .xxiiCr3.17.13: Fol. 91r, right margin. Dilige deum & proximum tuum &c
Þis was þe tixte trewly · I toke ful gode ȝeme
Þe glose was gloriousely writen · with a gilte penne
In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophetia

¶ Is here alle þi lordes lawes quod I · ȝe leue me wel he seyde
And who-so worcheth after þis writte · I wil vndertaken
Shal neuere deuel hym dere · ne deth in soule greue
For þough I seye it my-self · I haue saued with þis charme
Of men & of wommen · many score þousandes

¶ He seith soth seyde þis heraud · I haue yfounde it ofte
Lo here in my lappe · þat leued on þat charme
Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Macabeus
Ȝe and sexty þousande bisyde-forth · þat ben nouȝt seyen here

¶ Ȝowre wordes aren wonderful quod I tho · which of ȝow is trewest
In quemM.17.27: Hand X, fol. 81v, left margin. And lelest to leue on · for lyf and for soule
Tres vidit vnum adorauitM.17.28: Hand 3, fol. 81v, left margin. Abraham seith þat he seigh · holy þe Trinite
Abraham | saw thre | distincte | persons | in trinityCr2.17.29: Fol. Z.3v, left margin.Abraham | saw thre | distincte | persons | in trinityCr3.17.29: Fol. 91v, left margin. Thre persones in parcelles · departable fro other
And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte
And hath saued þat bileued so · and sory for her synnes
He can nouȝte segge þe somme · and some aren in his lappe
What neded it þanne · a newe lawe to bigynne
Sith þe fyrst sufficeth · to sauacioun & to blisse

¶ And now cometh spes and speketh · þat hath aspied þe lawe
And telleth nouȝte of þe Trinitee · þat toke hym his lettres
To byleue and louye · in o lorde almyȝty
And sitthe riȝt as my-self · so louye alle peple

XM.17.39: Hand X, fol. 81v, left margin. ¶ Þe gome þat goth with o staf · he semeth in gretter hele
Þan he þat goth with two staues · to syȝte of vs alle
And riȝte so by þe Rode · resoun me sheweth
It is lyȝter to lewed men · a lessoun to knowe
Þan for to techen hem two · and to harde to lerne þe leest
It is ful harde for any man · on abraham byleue
And welawey worse ȝit · for to loue a shrewe
It is liȝtor to leue · in þre louely persones
Þan for to louye and lene · as wel lorelles as lele
Go þi gate quod I to spes · so me god helpe
Þo þat lerneth þi lawe · wil litel while vsen it

And as we wenten þus in þe weye · wordyng togyderes
Þanne seye we a samaritan · sittende on a mule
Rydynge ful rapely · þe riȝt weye we ȝeden
Comynge fro a cuntre · þat men called Ierico
To a iustes in iherusalem · he chaced awey faste
id estcristusL.17.55: Hand 1, fol. 73r, right margin..id est. CristusM.17.55: Hand 1, fol. 82r, right margin.id estchristusHm.17.55: Hand X, fol. 184v, right margin. Might indicate comparison with another witnesses containing gloss. Bothe þe heraud and hope · and he mette at ones
The man | wounded | of theuesCr2.17.56: Fol. Z.4r, right margin.The man | wounded | of theuesCr3.17.56: Fol. 92r, right margin. Where a man was wounded · and with þeues taken
He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · ne stere fote ne handes
= C.17.58: Hand X, fol. 24v, left margin. Ne helpe hym-self sothely · for semiuyf he semed
And as naked as a nedle · and none helpe aboute hym

¶ Feith had first siȝte of hym · ac he flegh on syde
And nolde nouȝt neighen hym · by nyne londes lengthe

¶ Hope cam hippyng after · þat hadde so ybosted
How he with Moyses maundement · hadde many men yholpe
- C.17.64: Hand X, fol. 24v, left margin. Ac whan he hadde siȝte of þat segge · a-syde he gan hym drawe
Dredfully by þis day as duk · doth fram þe faucoun

¶ Ac so sone so þe samaritan · hadde siȝte of þis lede
He liȝte adown of lyard · and ladde hym in his hande
And to þe wye he went · his woundes to biholde
And parceyued bi his pous · he was in peril to deye
And but if he hadde recourere · þe rather ; þat rise shulde he neure
Wyth wyn & with oyle · his woundes he wasshed
Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed · & in his lappe hym layde
And ladde hym so forth on lyard · to lex cristi a graunge
Wel six myle or seuene · biside þe newe market
Herberwed hym at an hostrye · and to þe hostellere called
And sayde haue kepe þis man · til I come fro þe iustes
And lo here syluer he seyde · for salue to his woundes
And he toke hym two pans · to lyflode as it were
And seide what he speneth more · I make þe good hereafter
- C.17.81: Hand X, fol. 24v, left margin. For I may nouȝt lette quod þat leode · & lyarde he bistrydeth
And raped hym to iherusalem-ward · þe riȝte waye to ryde

¶ Faith folweth after faste · and fonded to mete hym
And spes spaklich hym spedde · spede if he myȝte
To ouertake hym and talke to hym · ar þei to toun come

¶ And whan I seyȝ þis I soiourned nouȝte · but shope me to renne
And suwed þat samaritan · þat was so ful of pite
And graunted hym to ben his grome · gramercy he seyde
Ac þi frende and þi felawe quod he · þow fyndest me at nede

Pierce | profereth | Christ to | become | his seruantCr2.17.90: Fol. Z.4v, left margin.Pierce | pr0fereth | Christ to | be come | his seruantCr3.17.90: Fol. 92v, left margin. ¶ And I thanked hym þo · and sith I hym tolde
How þat feith fleigh awey · and spes his felaw bothe
For siȝte of þe sorweful man · þat robbed was with þeues

Haue hem excused quod he · her help may litel auaille
May no medcyn on molde · þe man to hele brynge
Neither feith ne fyn hope · so festred ben his woundis
With-out þe blode of a barn · borne of a mayde
And be he bathed in þat blode · baptised as it were
And þanne plastred with penaunce · and passioun of þat babi
He shulde stonde and steppe · ac stalworth worth he neure
Tyl he haue eten al þe barn · and his blode ydronke
+L.17.101: Corrector, fol. 73v, left margin. For went neuere wy in þis worlde þorw þat wildernesse
Þat he ne was robbed or rifled · rode he þere or ȝede
Saue faith & his felaw · spes and my-selue
And þi-self now · and such as suwen owre werkis

¶ For outlawes in þe wode · and vnder banke lotyeth
And may vch man se · and gode merke take
Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on hors
For he halt hym hardyer on horse · þan he þat is a-fote
For he seigh me þat am samaritan · suwen feith & his felaw
On my caple þat hatte caro · of mankynde I toke it
He was vnhardy þat harlot · and hudde hym in inferno
Ac ar þis day þre dayes · I dar vndertaken
Þat he worth fettred þat feloune · fast with cheynes
And neure eft greue grome · þat goth þis ilke gate

¶ And þanne shal feith be forester here · and in þis fritth walke
And kennen out comune men · þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre
Which is þe weye þat ich went · and wherforth to iherusalem
And hope þe hostelleres man shal be · þere þe man lith an helynge
And alle þat fieble and faynt be · þat faith may nouȝt teche
Hope shal lede hem forth with loue · as his lettre telleth
And hostel hem and hele · þorw holicherche bileue
Of Chri=|stes resur|rectionCr2.17.122: Fol. Aa.1r, right margin.Of Chri=|stes resur|rection ,Cr3.17.122: Fol. 93r, right margin. Tyl I haue salue for alle syke · and þanne shal I retourne
And come aȝein bi þis contree · and confort alle syke
Þat craueth it or coueiteth it · and cryeth þere-after
For þe barne was born in bethleem · þat with his blode shal saue
Alle þat lyueth in faith · and folweth his felawes techynge

¶ A swete syre I seyde þo · wher I shal byleue
| C.17.128: Hand X, fol. 24v, left margin. As feith and his felawe · enfourmed me bothe
In þre persones departable · þat perpetuel were euere
And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte
And hope afterwarde · he bad me to louye
O god wyth al my good · and alle gomes after
Louye hem lyke my-selue · ac owre lorde aboue alle

¶ After abraham quod he · þat heraud of armes
Sette faste þi faith · and ferme bileue
And as hope hiȝte þe · I hote þat þow louye
Thyn euene-crystene euermore · euene-forth with þi-self
And if conscience carpe þere-aȝein · or kynde witte oyther
Ostende manum quia deus | assimulatur ad manumM.17.139: Hand 3, fol. 83r, right margin. Or heretykes with argumentz · þin honde þow hym shewe
The tri|nitie lyke | an handeCr2.17.140: Fol. Aa.1r, right margin.The tri=|niti lyke | an handeCr3.17.140: Fol. 93r, right margin. For god is after an hande · yhere now and knowe it

¶ Þe fader was fyrst as a fyst · with o fynger foldynge
Tyl hym loued and lest · to vnlosen his fynger
And profre it forth as with a paume · to what place it sholde
Þe paume is purely þe hande · and profreth forth þe fyngres
To mynystre and to make · þat myȝte of hande knoweth
And bitokneth trewly · telle who-so liketh
Þe holygost of heuene · he is as þe paume
Þe fyngres þat fre ben · to folde and to serue
Bitokneth sothly þe sone · þat sent was til erthe
Þat toched and tasted · atte techynge of þe paume
Seynt Marie a Mayde · and mankynde lauȝte
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c
Þe fader is þanne as a fust · with fynger to touche
Iohn .xiiCr2.17.152α: Fol. Aa.1v, left margin.[Iohn] .xiiCr3.17.152α: Fol. 93v, left margin. There is a hole here in the paper of the copy from which transcription was made. Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum &c
Al þat þe paume parceyueth · profitable to fele
Thus ar þei alle but one · as it an hande were
And þre sondry siȝtes · in one shewynge
Þe paume for he putteth forth fyngres and þe fust bothe
Riȝt so redily · reson it sheweth
How he þat is holygoste · sire & sone preueth
And as þe hande halt harde · and al þynge faste
Þorw foure fyngres and a thombe · forth with þe paume
Riȝte so þe fader and þe sone · & seynt spirit þe þridde
Halt al þe wyde worlde · with-in hem thre
Bothe welkne and þe wynde · water and erthe
Heuene & helle · and al þat þere is Inne
Þus it is · nedeth no man · to trowe non other
That thre þinges bilongeth · in owre lorde of heuene
+L.17.167: Corrector, fol. 74r, right margin. +M.17.167: Hand X, fol. 83v, left margin. - C.17.167: Hand X, fol. 25r, left margin. And aren serelepes by hem-self · asondry were neure
Namore þan myn hande may meue with-outen fyngeres

¶ And as my fust is ful honde · yfolde togideres
So is þe fader a ful god · formeour and shepper
Tu fabricator omnium &c
The tri=|nitie lyke | an handeCr2.17.171: Fol. Aa.1v, left margin.The Tri=|nitye lyke | an hand .Cr3.17.171: Fol. 93v, left margin. And al þe myȝte myd hym is in makyng of þynges

¶ The fyngres fourrmen a ful hande · to purtreye or peynten
Keruynge and compassynge · as crafte of þe fyngres
Riȝt so is þe sone · þe science of þe fader
And ful god as is þe fader · no febler ne no better
notadiscripcionem trinitatis | ad similitudinem manusM.17.176: Hand 3, fol. 83v, left margin. Þe paume is purelich þe hande · hath power bi hym-selue
Otherwyse þan þe wrythen fuste or werkmanschip of fyngres
For þe paume hath powere to put oute alle þe ioyntes
- C.17.179: Hand X, fol. 25r, left margin. (This line in C, as in L, combines KD.17.179 and 181.) And to vnfolde þe folden fuste atte þe fyngres wille
So is þe holygoste god · nother gretter ne lasse
Þan is þe sire and þe sone · & in þe same myȝte
And alle ar þei but o god · as is myn hande & my fyngres
Vnfolden or folden · my fuste & myn paume
Al is but an hande · how-so I torne it
Ac who is herte in þe hande · euene in þe myddes
He may receyue riȝt nouȝte · resoun it sheweth
For þe fyngres þat folde shulde · and þe fuste make
For peyne of þe paume ; powere hem failleth
To clicche or to clawe · to clyppe or to holde

¶ Were þe myddel of myn honde · ymaymed or ypersshed
I shulde receyue riȝte nouȝte · of þat I reche myȝte
Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres bothe were to-shullen
And þe myddel of myn hande · with-oute male-ese
In many kynnes maneres · I myȝte my-self helpe
Bothe meue and amende · þough alle my fyngres oke
notade peccato contra | spiritum sanctumM.17.198: Hand 3, fol. 83v, left margin. Bi þis skil me þynke · I se an euydence
Þat who-so synneth in þe seynt spirit assoilled worth he neure
Noither here ne elles-where · as I herde telle
Mat .xiiCr2.17.200α: Fol. Aa.2r, right margin.Mat .xii,Cr3.17.200α: Fol. 94r, right margin. Qui peccat in spiritu sancto &c
For he prikketh god as in þe paume · þat peccat in spiritu sancto
For god þe fader is as a fuste þe sone is as a fynger
The holy goste of heuene · is as it were þe pawme
So who-so synneth in seynt spirit · it semeth þat he greueth
God þat he grypeth with · and wolde his grace quenche

notaM.17.206: Hand X, fol. 84r, right margin. notaAliam discripcionem trinitatis | ad similitudinem CandeliM.17.206: Hand 3, fol. 84r, right marginThe Trinytie is ly=|koned to a torche | or a taporC2.17.206: Hand 2, fol. 86v, right margin. ¶ And to a torche or a tapre · þe trinitee is lykned
As wex and a weke · were twyned togideres
And þanne a fyre flaumende · forth oute of bothe
And as wex and weyke · and hote fyre togyderes
Fostren forth a flaumbe · and a feyre leye
So doth þe sire & þe sone · & also spiritus sanctus
The holy | gost shew|ed by si=|mulituds .Cr2.17.213: Fol. Aa.2v, left margin.The holy | gost shew|ed by si=|mulitudsCr3.17.213: Fol. 94v, left margin. Fostren forth amonges folke · loue & bileue
Þat alkyn crystene clenseth of synnes
~ C.17.215: Hand X, fol. 25r, left margin. And as þow seest some-tyme sodeynliche a torche
The blase þere-of yblowe out · ȝet brenneth þe weyke
With-oute leye or liȝte · þat þe macche brenneth
So is þe holygost god · & grace with-oute mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueite to destruye
Lele loue other lyf · þat owre lorde shapte

¶ And as glowande gledes · gladieth nouȝte þis werkmen
Þat worchen & waken in wyntres niȝtes
As doth a kex or a candel · þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth
Namore doth sire ne sone · ne seynt spirit togyderes
Graunteth no grace · ne forȝifnesse of synnes
Til þe holi goste gynne · to glowe and to blase
So þat þe holygoste · gloweth but as a glede
Tyl þat lele loue · ligge on hym & blowe
And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre on fader & on filius
And melteth her myȝte in-to mercy · as men may se in wyntre
Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne
Melteth in a mynut-while · to myst & to watre
So grace of þe holygoste · þe grete myȝte of þe trinite
Melteth in-to mercy · to mercyable & to non other
And as wex with-outen more · on a warme glede
Wil brennen & blasen · be þei to-gyderes
And solacen hem þat may se · þat sitten in derkenesse
So wole þe fader forȝif folke of mylde hertes
Þat reufulliche repenten · & restitucioun make
In as moche as þei mowen · amenden & payen
And if it suffice nouȝte for assetz · þat in suche a wille deyeth
Mercy for his mekenesse · wil make good þe remenaunte
And as þe weyke and fyre · wil make a warme flaumbe
For to myrthe men with · þat in merke sitten
notade gratitudine Cristi | bene loquiturM.17.245: Hand 3, fol. 84v, left margin. So wil cryst of his curteisye · and men crye hym mercy
Bothe forȝiue & forȝete · & ȝet bidde for vs
To þe fader of heuene · forȝyuenesse to haue

the god I loueS.17.248: Hand X, fol. 72v, left margin. Written vertically as pen trials with many other "the"s, bottom to top of margin. ¶ Ac hew fyre at a flynte · fowre hundreth wyntre
Bot þow haue towe to take it with · tondre or broches
Al þi laboure is loste · and al þi longe trauaille
For may no fyre flaumbe make · faille it his kynde
So is þe holy gost god · & grace with-outen mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures · cryst hym-self witnesseth
Mat. xxvCr2.17.253α: Fol. Aa.3r, right margin.Mat .xxvCr3.17.253α: Fol. 95r, right margin. Amen dico vobis nescio vos &c ·

notade Ingratidtudine | bene loquiturM.17.254: Hand 3, fol. 84v, left margin ¶ Be vnkynde to þin euene-cristene · and al þat þow canst bidden
Delen & do penaunce · day & nyȝte euere
- C.17.256: Hand X, fol. 25r, right margin. And purchace al þe pardoun of Pampiloun & Rome
And indulgences ynowe · & be ingratus to þi kynde
Þe holy goste hereth þe nouȝt · ne helpe may þe by resoun
For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym · þat he can nouȝte shyne
Ne brenne ne blase clere · for blowynge of vnkyndenesse
Poule þe apostle preueth wher I lye
i. Cor xiiiCr2.17.261α: Fol. Aa.3r, right margin.i. Cor .xiiiCr3.17.261α: Fol. 95r, right margin. Si linguis hominum loquar &c
XL.17.262: Hand X, fol. 75r, right margin. For-thy beth war ȝe wyse men · þat with þe wo[r]lde deleth
That riche ben & resoun knoweth · reuleth wel ȝowre soule
Beth nouȝte vnkynde I conseille ȝow · to ȝowre euene-crystene
For many of ȝow riche men · bi my soule men telleth
Ȝe brenne but ȝe blaseth nouȝte · þat is a blynde bekene
Mat .vii.Cr2.17.266α: Fol. Aa.3r, right margin.Mat .vii.Cr3.17.266α: Fol. 95r, right margin. Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c ·

notaL.17.268: Hand X, fol. 75r, right margin. ¶ Diues deyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse
notaL.17.269: Hand X, fol. 75v, left margin. Of his mete & his moneye to men that it neded
notate divitesM.17.270: Hand 3, fol. 84v, left margin. Vch a riche I rede · rewarde at hym take
And gyueth ȝowre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseth
For þat ben vnkynde to his · hope I none other
But þei dwelle þere diues is · dayes with-outen ende
Þus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie · þat quencheth as it were
Þe grace of þe holy gooste · goddes owne kynde
For þat kynde dothe vnkynde fordoth · as þese cursed theues
Vnkynde cristene men · for coueityse & enuye
Sleeth a man for his moebles · wyth mouth or wyth handes
For þat þe holygoste hath to kepe · þo harlotes destroyeth
- C.17.280: Hand X, fol. 25v, left margin. Þe which is lyf & loue · þe leye of mannes bodye
For euery manere good man · may be likned to a torche
A good | mane is | like a tor=|che or a | tapoureCr2.17.281: Fol. Aa.3v, left margin.A good man | is like a | torche or a | tapoure .Cr3.17.281: Fol. 95v, left margin. Or elles to a tapre · to reuerence þe Trinitee
Nota · C.17.283: Hand 1, fol. 25v, left margin. And who morthereth a good man · me thynketh by myn Inwyt
He fordoth þe leuest lyȝte · þat owre lorde loueth

notaL.17.285: Hand X, fol. 75v, left margin.hicM.17.285: Hand X, fol. 85r, left margin.Nota hic beneM.17.285: Hand X4, fol. 85r, right margin. ¶ Ac ȝut in many mo maneres · men offenden þe holygoste
Ac þis is þe worste wyse · þat any wiȝte myȝte
Synnen aȝein þe seynt spirit · assenten to destruye
For coueityse of any kynnes þinge · þat cryst dere bouȝte
How myȝte he axe mercy · or any mercy hym helpe
- C.17.290: Hand X, fol. 25v, left margin. Þat wykkedlich & willefullich · wolde mercy anynte
Innocence is nexte god · & nyȝte and day it crieth
Veniaunce veniaunce · forȝiue be it neuere
That shent vs & shadde owre blode · forshapte vs as it were
Vindica sanguinem iustorum
Apoc .viCr2.17.294: Fol. Aa.3v, left margin.Apoca .viCr3.17.294: Fol. 95v, left margin. Thus veniaunce veniaunce verrey charite asketh
And sith holicherche & charite chargeth þis so sore
Leue I neure that owre lorde wil loue þat charite lakketh
Ne haue pite for any preyere · þere þat he pleyneth

nota peccato contra spiritus | sanctoL.17.299: Hand X, fol. 75v, left margin.notaquestionem de peccato | contra spiritum sanctumM.17.299: Hand 3, fol. 85r, right margin. ¶ I pose I hadde synned so · and shulde now deye
And now am sory þat so · þe seint spirit agulte
Confesse me & crye his grace · god þat al made
And myldliche his mercy axe · myȝte I nouȝte be saued

notaL.17.303: Hand X, fol. 75v, left margin. · nota · C.17.303: Hand 1, fol. 25v, left margin. ¶ Ȝus seide þe Samaritan · so wel þow myȝte repente
Þat riȝtwisnesse þorw repentance · to reuthe myȝte torne
Ac it is but selden yseye · þere sothenesse bereth witnesse
Any creature þat is coupable · afor a kynges iustice
Be raunsoned for his repentaunce · þere alle resoun hym dampneth
For þere þat partye pursueth · þe pele is so huge
Þat þe kynge may do no mercy · til bothe men acorde
And eyther haue equite · as holywrit telleth
2?M.17.310α: Hand X, fol. 85r, left margin. Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c
notaL.17.311: Hand X, fol. 75v, left margin. Þus it fareth bi suche folke · þat falsely al her lyues
Euel lyuen & leten nouȝte · til lyf hem forsake
notaterribileM.17.315: Hand 3, fol. 85r, right margin. Good hope þat helpe shulde · to wanhope torneth
Nouȝt of þe nounpowere of god · þat he ne is myȝtful
To amende al þat amys is · and his mercy grettere
Þan alle owre wykked werkes · as holiwrit telleth
Psal .145.Cr2.17.318α: Fol. Aa.4r, right margin.Psal .145.Cr3.17.318α: Fol. 96r, right margin. Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius
notaL.17.319: Hand X, fol. 76r, left margin.notaL.17.319: Hand X, fol. 76r, right margin. Ac ar his riȝtwisnesse to reuthe tourne · some restitucioun bihoueth
notaY.17.320: Hand 1(?), fol. 85v, left margin. His sorwe is satisfaccioun for hym þat may nouȝte paye

Fumus Mulier & stillicidia | Expellunt hominem a domo pro[verbia]L.17.321: Hand 1(?), fol. 76r, right margin.nota a wikkyd wyffM.17.321: Hand 3, fol. 85v, left margin.TC.17.321: Hand X, fol. 25v, left margin.Thre thin|ges driue | a man oute | of hys | houseCr2.17.321: Fol. Aa.4r, right margin.Thre thin|ges dryue | a man out | of hys | house .Cr3.17.321: Fol. 96r, right margin. ¶ Thre þinges þere ben · þat doth a man by strengthe
Forto fleen his owne hous · as holy wryt sheweth
Þat one is a wikked wyf · þat wil nouȝt be chasted
Her fiere fleeth fro hyr · for fere of her tonge
And if his hous be vnhiled · and reyne on his bedde
He seketh and seketh · til he slepe drye
And whan smoke & smolder smyt in his syȝte
It doth hym worse þan his wyf · or wete to slepe
For smoke & smolder · smyteth his eyen
Til he be blere-nyed or blynde · and hors in þe throte
Cougheth and curseth · þat cryst gyf hem sorwe
Þat sholde brynge in better wode · or blowe it til it brende

notaL.17.333: Hand X, fol. 76r, right margin. ¶ Þise thre þat I telle of · ben þus to vnderstonde
¶ vxorL.17.334: Hand X2 (16th C), fol. 76r, right margin. The wyf is owre wikked flesshe · þat wil nouȝt be chasted
notaL.17.335: Hand X, fol. 76r, right margin. For kynde cleueth on hym euere · to contrarie þe soule
And þowgh it falle it fynt skiles · þe frelete it made
And þat is liȝtly forȝeuen · and forȝeten bothe
stillicidaL.17.338: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 76r, right margin. To man þat mercy asketh · and amende þenketh

notaL.17.339: Hand X, fol. 76r, right margin. ¶ The reyne þat reyneth · þere we reste sholde
Ben sikenesses & sorwes · þat we suffren oft
As Powle þe Apostle · to þe peple tauȝte
ii. Cor .xii.Cr2.17.341α: Fol. Aa.4v, left margin.ii. Cor .xiiCr3.17.341α: Fol. 96v, left margin. Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c ·
And þowgh þat men make ; moche deol in her angre
L.17.343: Hand X2 (16th C), fol. 76r, right margin. And inpacient in here penaunce · pure resoun knoweth
notapro hijs qui male | possunt patiM.17.344: Hand 3, fol. 85v, left margin. Þat þei han cause to contrarie · by kynde of her sykenesse
And liȝtlich owre lorde · at her lyues ende
Hath mercy on suche men · þat so yuel may suffre

¶ Ac þe smoke and þe smolder þat smyt in owre eyghen
Þat is coueityse and vnkyndenesse · þat quencheth goddes mercy
For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie · of alkynnes resoun
fumusL.17.350: Hand X1 (16th C), fol. 76r, right margin. For þere nys syke ne sori · ne non so moche wrecche
Þat he ne may louye & hym lyke · and lene of his herte
L.17.352: Hand X2 (16th C), fol. 76r, right margin. Goed wille & good worde ; bothe wisshen and willen
Alle manere men · mercy & forȝifnesse
And louye hem liche hym-self · and his lyf amende
I may no lenger lette quod he · and lyarde he pryked
IC2.17.356: Hand 1, fol. 88v, right margin. And went away as wynde · and þere-with I awaked

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