ap In quaint guise of clothing came they disfigured. Το prayers and to penance put themselves many, 25 All for love of our Lord lived they most strictly, In hope of having heaven's bliss after; As nuns and as hermits that in their cells hold them, Covet not careering about through the coun try, With no lustful luxuries their living to pam per. And some took to trade, As to our sight it seemeth prosper. 30 to thrive by the that such men with min And some, merriments to make, strels' cunning, And get gold with their glee, guiltless, methinketh; But jesters and jugglers, Judas' children, as fools preForged them wild fantasies tended, 36 Yet have wit at their will to work, were they willing. What Paul preacheth of them prove here I dare not: Qui loquitur turpiloquium he is Lucifer's henchman. Bidders and beggars fast about bustled, Till their bags and their bellies and bulging; were brimful 41 Faking for their food, and fighting at the alehouse, In gluttony, God wot, And rise up with rascals; Sleep and sloth too go they to slumber, ribaldry, these robber pursue them forever. 45 Pilgrims and palmers pledged them together To seek St. James's and saints' shrines at Rome too; Went they forth on their way with many wise stories, And had leave to be liars all their lives after. 11 roam beggars servant 21 what 22 prove, declare 27 brimful crammed 28 shammed 26 bellies went 32 these robber ribaldry go they 29 at the plighted rascals 33 sloth 34 follow 35 23 24 36 seek 37 had And yif him wrattheth," be y-war and his weye shonye." 12 Alle this route of ratones to this reson thei assented. 175 for alle Ac tho 13 the belle was y-bought and on the beighe hanged, Ther ne was ratoun in alle the route, the rewme 14 of Fraunce, That dorst have y-bounden the belle aboute the cattis nekke, Ne hangen it aboute the cattes hals, al Engelond to wynne; And helden hem unhardy 15 and here conseille feble, 180 And leten 16 here laboure lost and alle here longe studye. A mous that moche good couthe,17 as me thoughte, Stroke forth sternly and stode biforn hem alle, And to the route of ratones, reherced these wordes: "Though we culled 18 the catte yut 19 sholde And if wrathful he be, then beware and his way shun well." All this rabble of rats to this reasoning assented. 175 But when the bell had been bought and bound on the collar, There was no rat in all the rout that, for all the realm of France, Durst have bound that same bell about the cat's neck there, Nor have hung it about his head, to have all England; And found themselves fearful, and of feeble counsel, 180 And allowed their labour lost and their long study. A mouse that much good marked, as methinketh, Strode forth sternly and stood out before them, And to that rabble of rats wisdom: rehearsed this "Though we killed the cat, yet would there 185 though we to lat For-thi I conseille alle the comune under benches. 26 &C. |