they baren me on hand, and lyeden, that I hadde polut and

defouled my conscience with [sacrilege], for coveitise of dignitee.

And certes, thou thy-self, that are plaunted in me, chacedest

out of the sege of my corage al coveitise of mortal thinges; ne

sacrilege hadde no leve to han a place in me biforn thyne eyen.

185

For thou droppedest every day in myne eres and in my thought

thilke comaundement of [Pictagoras], that is to seyn, men shal

serve to godde, and not to goddes. Ne it was nat convenient,

ne no nede, to taken help of the foulest spirites; [I], that thou