Piers Plowman - Maybe You Like It

19.264: Grace gaf Piers a teeme — foure grete oxen.
19.265: That oon was Luk, a large beest and a lowe chered,
19.266: And Mark, and Mathew the thridde — myghty beestes bothe;
19.267: And joyned to hem oon Johan, moost gentil of alle,
19.268: The pris neet of Piers plow, passynge alle othere.
19.269: And yit Grace of his goodnesse gaf Piers foure stottes —
19.270: Al that hise oxen eriede, thei to harewen after.
19.271: Oon highte Austyn, and Ambrose another,
19.272: Gregori the grete clerk, and [the goode Jerom].
19.273: Thise foure, the feith to teche, folweth Piers teme,
19.274: And harewede in an handwhile al Holy Scripture
19.275: With two [aithes] that thei hadde, an oold and a newe,
19.275: Id est, Vetus Testamentum et Novum.
19.276: And Grace gaf Piers greynes — cardynales vertues,
19.277: And sew it in mannes soule, and sithen he tolde hir names.
19.278: Spiritus Prudencie the firste seed highte;
19.279: And whoso ete that, ymagynen he sholde,
19.280: Er he dide any dede, devyse wel the ende;
19.281: And lerned men a ladel bugge with a long stele
19.282: That caste for to kepe a crokke, and save the fatte above.
19.283: The seconde seed highte Spiritus Temperancie.
19.284: He that etc of that seed hadde swich a kynde,
19.285: Sholde nevere mete ne meschief make hym to swelle;
19.286: Ne sholde no scornere out of skile hym brynge;
19.287: Ne wynnynge ne wele of worldliche richesse,
19.288: Waste word of ydelnesse ne wikked speche moeve;
19.289: Sholde no curious clooth comen on his rugge,
19.290: Ne no mete in his mouth that Maister Johan spicede.
19.291: The thridde seed that Piers sew was Spiritus Fortitudinis;
19.292: And whoso ete of that seed hardy was evere
19.293: To suffren al that God sente, siknesse and angres.
19.294: Mighte no lesynges, ne lyere, ne los of worldly catel.
19.295: Maken hym, for any mournynge, that he nas murie in soule,
19.296: And bold and abidynge bismares to suffre,
19.297: And pletede al with pacience and Parce michi, Domine,
19.298: And covered hym under conseille of Caton the wise:
19.298: Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique.
19.299: The ferthe seed that Piers sew was Spiritus Iusticie,
19.300: And he that ete of that seed sholde be evere trewe
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