The Multitext Edition > Cambridge University Library MS. Gg.4.2.7
The Parson's Tale
Folio 443r
69 of 74 folios
for wheche he wenyth that he may suffere no penaūce
985
There ageyns is remedye for to thȳke that bodyly pe-
nance is but schort & lytil / at regrard of the peyne of
helle . that is so crewel & so long that it lastyth wt outȳ
ende
¶ Now a geyns the schame that a man hath to
schryue hȳ / & namely these ypocritis / that woldȳ been
holdyn so parfite / that they han non neede to schryue he
A gayns that schame schulde a man thȳke that be weye
of resoū that he that hath not been aschamyd / to doon
foule thȳgis ; certis hȳ oughte not to been aschamyd
to doon fayre thyngis / &
alle hese werkys to hȳ may
no thyng been hid / ne couered /
Men schulde ek remē-
bre hem / of the schame that is to come at the day
of dome / to hē that been nat penytent / & schryuȳ
in this present lyf /
990
for alle the creatourys in erthe
and in helle / schulyn seen aperly al that they hidyn ī
this world
¶ Now for to speke of hē that been
so necligent & slowe to schryue hem / that stant in
two manerys /
that on is for that he hopit to leue
longe & for to purche meche rychesse for his delyt &
thāne he wolde schryue hȳ / And as he seyth hȳ self
thāne tymely I now / to come to schrifte /
A nothir is
of surquiderye / .i. necligent hope that he hath in cistes
mercy .
A gayns the ferste vice / he schal thȳke that
oure lyf is in no sekyrnesse And ek that alle the ry-
chessis in this world / been in auenture & passyn as
a schadewe on the wal .
995
& as seyth seynt Gregorye
that it apertenith to the greete ryght wisnesse of god
that neuere schal the peyne stȳte of hem that neuere
wolde wt drawe hem / frō sȳne here thankis / but ay
contynewe in sȳne / for thilke perpetuel peyne .
¶ Wan-
hope is in two maneris / the fyrste wanhope is in
the mercy of cist / that othyr is / that they thȳke that
they myghte nat longe perseuere in goodnesse //
The ferste
wanhope comyth of that he demyth that he hath
sȳnyd so gretly & so ofte & so longe leyn in sȳne
that he schal not been sauyd /
Certis a geyn that
cursede wanhope / schulde he thȳke that the passiou
of Ihū Crist is more strong for to onbynde ; thā sȳne
is strong for to bynde .