ACCIDIA )) OU LE CURE NEGLIGENT

Thanne corne Sleuthe al bislabered ■ with two slymy

[eighen :

« I most sitte », seyde the segge ■ « or elles shulde I

[nappe ; I may noughte stonde ne stoupe ■ ne with-oute a stole

[knele.

Were 1 broughte abedde ■ but if my taille-ende it made, Shulde no ryngynge do me ryse ■ ar I were rype to dyne. » Ile bygan benedicite with a bolkc ■ and his brest knocked, And roxed and rored • and ruttc atte laste. « What ! awake, renke ! » quod Repentance ■ « and

[râpe the to shrifte »

If I shulde deye bi tins day ' me liste noughte to loke ; I can noughte perfitly my pater-noster ■ as the prest

[hit syngefh, But I can rymes of Robyn Hood ■ and Randolf erle of

[Chestre, Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady ■ the leste that

[euere was made.

I haue made vowcs fourty ■ and foryete hem on the

[morne ; I parfourned neure penaunce ■ as the prest me hightc. Ne ryght sori for my synnes ■ yet was I neuere. And yif I bidde any bedes- but if it be in wrath,

That I telle with my tonge- is two myle fro myne herte, I am occupied eche day ■ haliday and other, With ydel taies atte aie ■ and otherwhile in cherches ; Goddes peyne and his passioun ■ fui selde thynke I

[there-on.

I visitcd neuerefiehle men ■ ne fettered folke in puttes;

I haue leuere hcre an harlotrie ■ or a somer-game of

[souteres, Or lesynges to laughe at ■ and belye my neighhore, Than al that cuere Marke made ■ Mathew, Iolm, and

| Lucas. And vigilies and fastyng-dayes ■ aile thise late I passe, And ligge ahedde in lenten ■ an my lemman in myn armes, Tyl matynes and masse be do ■ and thanne go to the frères ; Corne I to ite missa est • I holde me yserued. I nam noughte shryuen some tyme ■ but if sekenesse it

[make, Nought tweies in two yere ■ and thanne vp gesse I

[shryue me.

I haue be prest and parsoun • passynge thretti wynter, Yete can I neither solfe ne synge • ne seyntes lyues rede, But 1 can fynde in a felde • or in a fourlonge an hare, Better than in bealus vir ■ or in beati omnes Construe oon clause wel ■ and kenne it to my parochienes.