[SI QUANTAS RAPIDIS.]
ÞOuȝ plentee Though Plenty, from her teeming horn, poured down as many riches on the world as there are sands on the sea-shore, or stars in heaven, mankind would not cease to complain. þat is goddesse of rycches hielde adoun
wiþ ful horn. and wiþdraweþ nat hir hand. ¶ As [900]
many recches as þe see turneþ vpwardes sandes whan it
is moeued wiþ rauysshing blastes. or ellys as many
rycches as þer shynen bryȝt[e] sterres on heuene on þe
sterry nyȝt. Ȝit for al þat mankynde nolde not cesce to [904]
wope wrecched[e] pleyntes. [* fol. 10.] Though Heaven may grant every desire, they will still cry for more. ¶ And al be it so *þat
god receyueþ gladly her prayers and ȝeueþ hem as ful
large muche golde and apparaileþ coueytous folk wiþ
noble or clere honours. ȝit semeþ hem haue I-gete noþing. [908]
but alwey her cruel ravyne deuourynge al þat þei
han geten shewiþ oþer gapinges. þat is to seye gapen
and desiren ȝit after moo rycchesse. What rein can restrain unbounded avarice? ¶ What brideles
myȝten wiþholde to any certeyne ende þe desordene [912]
coueitise of men ¶ Whan euere þe raþer þat it fletiþ in
large ȝiftis: þe more ay brenneþ in hem þe þrest of
hauyng. He who thinks himself poor, though he be rich, doth truly labour under poverty. ¶ Certis he þat quakyng and dredeful weneþ
hym seluen nedy. he ne lyueþ neuere mo ryche. [916]
899 rycches—rychesses
901 recches—rychesses
vpwardes—vpward
902 rauysshing—rauyssynge
903 rycches—rychesses
bryȝt[e]—bryhte
on (1)—in
904 nyȝt—nyhtes
905 wope wrecched[e]—wepe wrecchede
906 her—hir
ful—fool
907 muche—meche
folk—men