I

Pacience is a poynt, þaȝ hit displese ofte,
When heuy herttes ben hurt wyth heþyng oþer elles,
Suffraunce may aswagen hem & þe swelme leþe,
For ho quelles vche a qued, & quenches malyce;
For quo-so suffer cowþe syt, sele wolde folȝe,
& quo for þro may noȝt þole, þe þikker he sufferes;
Þen is better to abyde þe bur vmbe-stoundes,
Þen ay þrow forth my þro, þaȝ me þynk ylle.
I herde on a halyday at a hyȝe masse,
How mathew melede, þat his mayster his meyny con teche,
Aȝt happes he hem hyȝt & vche on a mede,
Sunderlupes for hit dissert vpon a ser wyse:
Thay arn happen þat han in hert pouerté,
For hores is þe heuen-ryche to holde for euer;
Þay ar happen also þat haunte mekenesse,
For þay schal welde þis worlde & alle her wylle haue;
Thay ar happen also þat for her harme wepes,
For þay schal comfort encroche in kythes ful mony;
Þay ar happen also þat hungeres after ryȝt,
For þay schal frely be refete ful of alle gode;
Thay ar happen also þat han in hert rauþe,
For mercy in alle maneres her mede schal worþe;
Þay ar happen also þat arn of hert clene,
For þay her sauyour in sete schal se with her yȝen;
Thay ar happen also þat halden her pese,
For þay þe gracious godes sunes schal godly be called;
Þay ar happen also þat con her hert stere,
For hores is þe heuen-ryche, as I er sayde.
These arn þe happes alle aȝt þat vus bihyȝt weren,
If we þyse ladyes wolde lof in lyknyng of þewes;
Dame pouert, Dame pitee, Dame penaunce þe þrydde,
Dame Mekenesse, Dame mercy & Miry clannesse,
& þenne Dame pes & pacyence put in þer-after.
He were happen þat hade one, alle were þe better,
Bot syn I am put to a poynt þat pouerte hatte,
I schal me poruay pacyence, & play me with boþe;
For in þe tyxte, þere þyse two arn in teme layde,
Hit arn fettled in on forme, þe forme & þe laste,
& by quest of her quoyntyse enquylen on mede,
& als in myn vpynyoun hit arn of on kynde;
For þer as pouert hir proferes ho nyl be put vtter,
Bot lenge where-so-euer hir lyst, lyke oþer greme,
& þere as pouert enpresses, þaȝ mon pyne þynk,
Much maugre his mun, he mot nede suffer,
Thus pouerte & pacyence arn nedes play-feres.
Syþen I am sette with hem samen, suffer me by-houes,
Þenne is me lyȝtloker hit lyke & her lotes prayse,
Þenne wyþer wyth & be wroth & þe wers haue.
Ȝif me be dyȝt a destyné due to haue,
What dowes me þe dedayn, oþer dispit make?
Oþer ȝif my lege lorde lyst on lyue me to bidde,
Oþer to ryde, oþer to renne, to rome in his ernde,
What grayþed me þe grychchyng bot grame more seche?
Much ȝif he me ne made, maugref my chekes,
& þenne þrat moste I þole, & vnþonk to mede,
Þe[t] had bowed to his bode, bongre my hyure.
Did not Ionas in Iude suche Iape sum-whyle,
To sette hym to sewrte, vnsounde he hym feches?
Wyl ȝe tary a lyttel tyme & tent me a whyle,
I schal wysse yow þer-wyth as holy wryt telles.