no-thing, but alwey hir cruel ravyne, devouringe al that they

han geten, sheweth other [gapinges]; that is to seyn, gapen and

desyren yit after mo richesses. What brydles mighten withholden,

[to any certein ende], the desordenee covetise of men, whan,

ever the rather that it fleteth in large yiftes, the more ay brenneth

15

in hem the thurst of havinge? Certes he that, quakinge and

dredful, weneth him-selven nedy, he ne liveth never-more riche."

Me. II. 1. A. rycche. // Both hielde; Ed. hylde. 2. A. recches(!). 4. C. rauyssynge. // A. rycches. 5. A. nyȝt (Lat. noctibus). 6. C. plentes; A. pleyntes. 7. C. resseyueth. // C. preyres; A. prayers. 8. C. A. yeueth. // A. ful (for fool). 9. A. folk (for men). 10. C. thinge; A. thing. // C. crewel. 12. A. rycchesse. 15. A. threst. 16. C. leueth; A. lyueth. // A. -mo.

Prose III.