THE TENTH BOUGH OF AVARICE.
The tenth bough of avarice is evil games, such as games of dice and of tables and others, whatever they may be, where one plays for pence or for other temporal gain. Such evil games, especially of dice and of tables, are forbidden by right because of many sins that follow such games. The first is covetousness, to win, and to despoil his fellow. The second is too great usury, as nine for twelve, not for a month, nor for eight days, but in one self-same day. The third is to increase lies and idle words and, what is worse, great blasphemies of God and of His saints, wherefore God is angry, as oftentimes He has taken too little vengeance. For sometimes their visage turns round, with the front behind.
A Tale.
There was a knight that swore by God’s eyes; in haste his one eye leapt upon the checker. An archer, because he had lost at gambling, took his bow and shot upwards at God. In the morning, when he sat at play, his arrow fell upon the checker all bloody.
The fourth is the evil example, which he that plays gives to others that see the game. The fifth is loss of time that one should occupy in good works. And many other sins which it were a long matter to tell. One thing I shall not forget, that he that wins cannot well withhold what he wins, but shall give it for God’s love, except it be in such a way that he had it by fraud or by force, like him that by force causes others to play. In that case he should restore it to him that has lost it. Also I speak of what one wins at a tournament.
These are the boughs of avarice: there are enough others. But they are more for clerks than for laymen. And this book is made more for laymen than for clerks, who know the writings.