I wot well, deserved a greater punishment than I have yet suffered. And there, as me lacked suffisance and boldness to come in the presence of them that I have so grievously offended, will it please your goodness. Faith, Hope, and Charity, charitably to go before and be mean for me to the Mother of mercy and pity, that she will go for me to the glorious Trinity, and take you three with her. For well I wot the glorious Trinity will nothing deny that she desireth. They understand her perfect charity is such that every creature that calleth after grace, she hath pity upon them; have they never so grievously offended. I should fall in despair and I had not perfect trust in her grace, mercy, and pity. And so I have great cause, for I have brought my seely[1] soul to great bondage, and in such adversity without remedy, that it passeth my power to ease him or help him, nor[2] the great nor special trust that I have in that most blessed Lady, and in you, holy Faith, Hope, and Charity.
How the sorrowful soul complaineth him to the Dying Creature: saying right thus
How much hast thou done with thy master, the
World? How nigh be ye twain departed? Understandest thou not how unsure he is, and at thy most
need will fail thee? Hast thou not seen, afore this
time, in the times of great adversities and troubles,
