¶ Than began new grase in the felde to spryng.
¶ All vnlyke that other of colour fayr & bryght.
¶ But then I aspyed a meruelous thyng.
¶ For the grounde of the felde gan wex hore & whyt.
¶ I coude not conceyue how that be myght.
¶ Tyll I was enformed & taught it to know.
¶ But wher vertu occupyet must nedes wel grow
Yet in the mene tyme while the felde thus grow.
¶ And reson with sadnesse therof had goueraunce.
¶ Many a preuy messenger thyder sent Vertew.
¶ To know yf it were guyded to his plesaunce.
¶ Now prayer eft fastyng & often tyme penaunce.
¶ And whan he myght goo preuely almesdede.
¶ And bad hym to his power helpe where he se nede
While that felde thus rewled reson with sadnesse.
¶ Maugre dame Nature for all her carnall might
¶ Came thyder Attropos voyd of all gladnesse.
¶ Wrapped in his shete & axed of ony wyght.
¶ Coude wysse hym the vay to the lorde of light.
¶ Or ellis where myght fynde ryghtwysnesse.
¶ Forsothe sayd reyson I trow as I gesse.
¶ At Vertu his castell ye may soone hym fynde.
¶ If ye lyst the laboure thyder to take.
¶ And there shall ye know yf ye be not blynde.
¶ The next wey to the lord of lyght I vndertake.
¶ So thyder went Attropos petycyon to make.
¶ To ryghtwysnesse preyeng that he myght.
¶ Be take in to the seruyse of the lorde of lyght.
¶ What sad ryghtwysnesse thou olde dotyng foole.
¶ Whome hast thou seruyd syth the worlde began
¶ But oonly hym where hast thou go to scole.
¶ Whethery art thou double or elles the sam man.
¶ That thou were fyrst a syr sayd he than.
¶ I praye you hertely holde me excused.
¶ I am olde & febell my wyttys are dysused.
¶ Well sayd ryghtwysnes for as moche as thow.
¶ Knowest not thy mayster thy name shal I chaunge
¶ Dethe shalt thou be caled from hens forward now
¶ Among all the peple that shal be had straunge.
¶ But whan thou begynnest to make thy chalaunge.
¶ Dredde shalt thou be where so thou become.
¶ And to noo creature shalt thou be welcome.
¶ And as for theym whome thou dedest serue.
¶ For as moche as they presume on hem to take.
¶ That hygh name of god they shal as they deserue
¶ Therfore be rewarded I dare vndertake.
¶ Wyth payn perpetual among fendes blake.
¶ And her names shall be put to oblyuyon.
¶ Among men but it be in dyrysyon.
¶ Aha sayd Attropos now begynne I wex glad.
¶ That I shal thus auenged of hem be.
¶ Syth they so long tyme haue made me so mad.
¶ Yee quod ryghtwysnesse here what I say to the.
¶ The lorde of lyght sent the worde by me.
¶ That in Macrocosme sesyne shalt thou take
¶ wherfore thy darte redy loke thou make
¶ And as soone as Vertue that vnderstood
¶ He sayd he was pleased that it sholde soo be
¶ And euen forth with he commaunded presthood
¶ To make hym redy the felde for to se
¶ So thyder went presthode with benygnyte
¶ Conueyening thyder the blessyd sacrament
¶ Of Eukaryst but fyrst were thyder sent
¶ Confessyon contrycyon and satysfaccyon (nota
¶ Sorow for synne and grete repentaunce
¶ Holy deuocyon with good dysposycyon
¶ All these thyder came and also penaunce
¶ As her dewte was to make purueaunce
¶ Agayn the comyng of that blessyd lorde
¶ Feyth hope & charyte therto were acorde