as well from vices as bodily peril; and ordained thee a good angel to keep and counsel thee — if thou have been counselled by him, bethink thee — and when thou camest to years of discretion he ordained thee three sad counsellors; Reason, Diead, and Conscience If thou have ruled thee by their counsel, call that to thy remembrance.
He ordained thee also five [Wits] servants, that thou shouldest be master of, and rule them after thy discretion; that is to say, thy sight, thy hearing, thy speech, thy feeling, and thy taste. How hast thou ruled those that be under thine obedience ? Me seemeth thou hast much things to answer for. The Judge that shall sit upon thee. He will not be partial, nor He will not be corrupt with goods, but He will minister to thee justice and equity certainly as well as these three were. Certain things He forbade thee, and those things thou shouldest flee in every wise. There is, to wit, the seven deadly sins; and all things that should provoke, move, or stir thereto. He bade thee flee. Hast thou done so ? Hast thou kept His commandments ten: and yet that is but a little thing.
The Lamentation of the Dying Creature
Alas! alas! Excuse me I can not, and whom I might desire to speak for me I wot not. The day and time is so dreadful; the Judge is so rightful; mine enemies be so evil; my kin, my neighbours, my friends, my servants, be not favourable to me; and I wot well they shall not be heard there.
