HOW THEY AVOID ALL VICES.
15
364& derely wiþ-oute deþ · dure schal euere.
We bever indulge in tale-bearing Tale tende we non · þat turneþ to harme,
But hit be preched for prow · & procred to goode.
We no spende no speche · but whan we speke weele;
368 We always speak We ne sain but soþ · & sesen by time.
We no recche of no ricchesse · no renoun of landus,
No catelus couaitise · comyþ at oure herte;
For þat is soþliche a sinne · þat seggus haunteþ,
372 & to miche mischef · many men bringeth.
We loathe envy. Al we libben in loue · & loþen enuie,
& hit paieþ our peple · in pouert to libbe.
For we hit rekenen for riche · & redileche finden,
376Þat hit foleweþ oure folk · til þei fare hennus.
We forsake warfare. Ay are we in pes · and armus forsaken,
& to no wikkede werk · woned we be fare.
Þer nis no lawe in oure land · ludus to chaste,
380 For we no dede no don · domus to þolie.
We holden hit a vertu · at hom in oure lande,
We show no mercy Amon þe men of our march · mercy vnknowe;
For we ben meved to no man · mercy to gran[t]e.
384We never do any sin for which we have to ask for mercy. We ne gilte noht god · no no gome here,
Where-fore we mosten haue in minde · mercy to crye,
Þat god scholde of oure gilt · for-giuen vs þe sinne
Of ony wikkede werk · þat we wroute euyre.
388We do not sacrifice to devils. Ne we for sake of our sinne · no sacrifice maken
To oure galfule[1] god · wiþ gold nor wiþ siluer,
As ȝe dulfully don · to deuelus of paine,
We bever indulge in tale-bearing Tale tende we non · þat turneþ to harme,
But hit be preched for prow · & procred to goode.
We no spende no speche · but whan we speke weele;
368 We always speak We ne sain but soþ · & sesen by time.
We no recche of no ricchesse · no renoun of landus,
No catelus couaitise · comyþ at oure herte;
For þat is soþliche a sinne · þat seggus haunteþ,
372 & to miche mischef · many men bringeth.
We loathe envy. Al we libben in loue · & loþen enuie,
& hit paieþ our peple · in pouert to libbe.
For we hit rekenen for riche · & redileche finden,
376Þat hit foleweþ oure folk · til þei fare hennus.
We forsake warfare. Ay are we in pes · and armus forsaken,
& to no wikkede werk · woned we be fare.
Þer nis no lawe in oure land · ludus to chaste,
380 For we no dede no don · domus to þolie.
We holden hit a vertu · at hom in oure lande,
We show no mercy Amon þe men of our march · mercy vnknowe;
For we ben meved to no man · mercy to gran[t]e.
384We never do any sin for which we have to ask for mercy. We ne gilte noht god · no no gome here,
Where-fore we mosten haue in minde · mercy to crye,
Þat god scholde of oure gilt · for-giuen vs þe sinne
Of ony wikkede werk · þat we wroute euyre.
388We do not sacrifice to devils. Ne we for sake of our sinne · no sacrifice maken
To oure galfule[1] god · wiþ gold nor wiþ siluer,
As ȝe dulfully don · to deuelus of paine,
pertinet, nullatenus audire affectamus. Non multum loquimur, et com ad loquelam prouocamur dicimus veritatem et ipsam continue predicamus. Diuitias non amamus. Inter nos nullus liuor nullaque inuidia dominatur. Nullus etiam inter nos altior vel fortior reperitur. Ex paupertate quam habemus diuites sumus, quam coomuniter omnes supportamus. Litem non facimus, nec arma corporalia occupamus. Pacem semper ex consuetudine retinemus. Iudicia non habemus, quia mala non facimus, vnde ad iudicium vocemur.
Una vestra lex est contraria nostre, quia misericoridam nullam facimus, eo quod nulla committimus quibus misericordiam consequi mereamur. Nullum laborem qui auarice pertineat sustinemus,
- ↑ MS. 'galsule'; cf. l. 688.
