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P.152: "For doute of diverse dredes we dar noght wel loke"<br />
P.153: And if we grucche of his gamen he wol greven us alle —<br />
P.154: Cracchen us or clawen us and in hise clouches holde.<br />
P.155: That us lotheth the lif er he late us passe.<br />
P.156: Mighte we with any wit his wille withstonde,<br />
P.157: We myghte be lordes olofte and lyven at oure ese'.<br />
P.158: A raton of renoun, moost renable of tonge,<br />
P.159: Seide for a sovereyn [salve] to hem alle,<br />
P.160: "I have yseyen segges', quod he, "in the Cite of Londoun<br />
P.161: Beren beighes ful brighte abouten hire nekkes,<br />
P.162: And somme colers of crafty work; uncoupled they wenden<br />
P.163: Bothe in wareyne and in waast where hem leve liketh,<br />
P.164: And outher while thei arn elliswhere, as I here telle.<br />
P.165: Were ther a belle on hire beighe, by Jesus, as me thynketh,<br />
P.166: Men myghte witen wher thei wente and awey renne.<br />
P.167: And right so', quod that raton, "reson me sheweth<br />
P.168: To bugge a belle of bras or of bright silver<br />
P.169: And knytten it on a coler for oure commune profit<br />
P.170: And hangen it upon the cattes hals — thanne here we mowen<br />
P.171: Wher he ryt or rest or rometh to pleye;<br />
P.172: And if hym list for to laike, thanne loke we mowen<br />
P.173: And peeren in his presence the while hym pleye liketh,<br />
P.174: And if hym wratheth, be war and his wey shonye'.<br />
P.175: Al the route of ratons to this reson assented;<br />
P.176: Ac tho the belle was ybrought and on the beighe hanged<br />
P.177: Ther ne was raton in al the route, for al the reaume of France,<br />
P.178: That dorste have bounden the belle aboute the cattes nekke,<br />
P.179: Ne hangen it aboute his hals al Engelond to wynne,<br />
P.180: [Ac] helden hem unhardy and hir counseil feble,<br />
P.181: And leten hire laboure lost and al hire longe studie.<br />
P.182: A mous that muche good kouthe, as me tho thoughte,<br />
P.183: Strook forth sternely and stood bifore hem alle,<br />
P.184: And to the route of ratons reherced thise wordes:<br />
P.185: "Though we hadde ykilled the cat, yet sholde ther come another<br />
P.186: To cracchen us and al oure kynde, though we cropen under<br />
benches.<br />
P.187: Forthi I counseille al the commune to late the cat worthe,<br />
P.188: And be we nevere so bolde the belle hym to shewe.<br />
P.188: The Vision of <strong>Piers</strong> <strong>Plowman</strong><br />
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