'I wolde nouȝt greue God,' quod Piers, 'for al þe good on grounde; 225
Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist?' seyde Pieres þanne.
'Ȝe, I bihote þe,' quod Hunger, 'or ellis þe Bible lieth;
Go to Genesis þe gyaunt, þe engendroure of vs alle:—
"In sudore and swynke þow shalt þi mete tilye,
And laboure for þi lyflode," and so owre Lorde hyȝte. 230
And Sapience seyth þe same, I seigh it in þe Bible:—
"Piger pro frigore no felde nolde tilye,
And þerfore he shal begge and bidde, and no man bete his hunger."
Mathew with mannes face mouthed þise wordis:—