12
284Yet think not I grudge telling you. Þat me were loþ of our lif · ludus to teche;
For as michel as y may · in minde bi-þenke,
Bi þis a-selede sonde · soþliche i telle.
We are poor Brahmans. We, bredde breþurne in god · bragmanus pore,
288Leden clanliche our lif · & libben as simple.
We ne wilne in þis world · to welde[1] no more,
We live a simple life,
in all povety. Bute was we simpleliche our lif · sostaine ,pwe.
291We ben to penance iput · & pouerte drien;
We holde hit nedful to nime · þat nouht may be wastid.
Hit is no leue in oure lawe · þat we land erie
We plough not. Wiþ no scharpede schar · to schape þe forwes;
We sow not. Ne sette solow on þe feld[2] · ne sowe none erþe,
296In ony place of þe plowe · to plokke wiþ oxen;
Ne in no side of þe se · to saile wiþ nettus,
We fish not Of þe finnede fihcs · our fode to lacche.
We hunt not For to hauke ne hunte · haue we no leue,
300Ne foure-fotede best · ferke to kille;
Ne to faren in þe feld · & fonde wiþ slyhþe
For to refe þe brod · of briddus of heuene.
303& whan we faren to fed · we finde no faute,
We han so michel at þe mel · þat we no more wilne.
Oþir goodis to gete · giue we no tente,
We desire no dainties Ne oþir dainteys dere · desire we none,
Þan oure modur of mete · may vs[3] forþ bringe,
308Þat we kennen for kinde · & callen þe erþe.
The earth sustains us. Sche vs norscheþ at nede · & i-now sendeþ,
Wiþ-oute swer oþur swink · swich as we hauen.
Hit ne is no leue in our land · þat ludus þer-inne
For as michel as y may · in minde bi-þenke,
Bi þis a-selede sonde · soþliche i telle.
We are poor Brahmans. We, bredde breþurne in god · bragmanus pore,
288Leden clanliche our lif · & libben as simple.
We ne wilne in þis world · to welde[1] no more,
We live a simple life,
in all povety. Bute was we simpleliche our lif · sostaine ,pwe.
291We ben to penance iput · & pouerte drien;
We holde hit nedful to nime · þat nouht may be wastid.
Hit is no leue in oure lawe · þat we land erie
We plough not. Wiþ no scharpede schar · to schape þe forwes;
We sow not. Ne sette solow on þe feld[2] · ne sowe none erþe,
296In ony place of þe plowe · to plokke wiþ oxen;
Ne in no side of þe se · to saile wiþ nettus,
We fish not Of þe finnede fihcs · our fode to lacche.
We hunt not For to hauke ne hunte · haue we no leue,
300Ne foure-fotede best · ferke to kille;
Ne to faren in þe feld · & fonde wiþ slyhþe
For to refe þe brod · of briddus of heuene.
303& whan we faren to fed · we finde no faute,
We han so michel at þe mel · þat we no more wilne.
Oþir goodis to gete · giue we no tente,
We desire no dainties Ne oþir dainteys dere · desire we none,
Þan oure modur of mete · may vs[3] forþ bringe,
308Þat we kennen for kinde · & callen þe erþe.
The earth sustains us. Sche vs norscheþ at nede · & i-now sendeþ,
Wiþ-oute swer oþur swink · swich as we hauen.
Hit ne is no leue in our land · þat ludus þer-inne
credas quod inuidia moueamur, quantum poterimus tibi de moribus nostris duximus indicandum. nos siquidem bragmani simplicem et puram vitam deducimus; peccata non committimus, nec vltra volumus habere quam ratio nature requirit. Omnia patimur et omnia sustinemus. Id apud nos dicimus optimum, quod superfluum non probatur. Terras nostras non aramus, et ipsis semina non immittimus. Boues currui non iungimus. Retia in mari ad comprehendendum pisces non ponimus. Uenationes aliquas quadrupedum aut auium non facimus. Nihil etiam ad manducandum querimus nisi quod terra sine labore hominum producit. His etiam cibis non implemur,
