3352 soþe—soth
þat seyþ—MS. but siþe, C. þat seyth
3353 [doon]—from C.
3355 seyne—seyn
3357 whiche—which
THE WICKED ARE UNHAPPY.
[QUOS UIDES SEDERE CELSOS.]
Who so þat þe Whosoever might strip of their purple coverings, proud kings, who, surrounded by their guards, sit on lofty thrones, and whose stern looks wear fierce threatenings, and boiling breasts breathe fury; would see those mighty lords inwardly fettered, and tormented by lust, passion, grief, and delusive hopes. couertures of her veyn apparailes
myȝt[e] strepen of þise proude kynges þat þou
seest sitten on heyȝe in her chayeres glyterynge in
shynynge purpre envyroned wiþ sorweful armures [3364]
manasyng wiþ cruel mouþe. blowyng by woodnesse of
herte. ¶ He sholde se þan þat ilke lordes beren wiþ
inne hir corages ful streyte cheynes for leccherye tormentiþ
hem on þat oon syde wiþ gredy venyms and [3368]
troublable Ire þat araiseþ in hem þe floodes of troublynges
tourmentiþ vpon þat oþer side hir þouȝt. or sorwe halt
hem wery or ycauȝt. or slidyng and disseyuyng hope
tourmentiþ hem. Since, then, so many tyrants bear sway over one head—that lord, oppressed by so many masters (i. e. vices), is weak and feeble, and his actions are not obedient to his will. And þerfore syn þou seest on heed. [3372]
þat is to seyne oon tyraunt bere so many[e] tyrauntis.
þan ne doþ þilk tyraunt nat þat he desiriþ. syn he
is cast doune wiþ so many[e] wicked lordes. þat is to
seyn wiþ so many[e] vices. þat han so wicked lordshipes [3376]
ouer hym.
3361-63 her—hir
3362 myȝt[e]—myhte
3363 heyȝe—heygh