Therwith they purchase hem lay-fee In londë, there hem lyketh best, And builde +als brode as a citè Both in the est, and eke in the west. To purchase thus they ben ful prest, 745 But on the pore they woll nought spend, Ne no good give to goddes gest, Ne sende him some that all hath send. By hir service such woll live, And trusse that other in-to tresour; 750 Though all hir parish dye unshrive, They woll nat give a rosë-flour. Hir lyf shuld be as a mirrour Bothe to lered and to leude also, And teche the people hir leel labour; 755 Such mister men ben all misgo. Some of hem ben hardë nigges, And some of hem ben proude and gay; Some spende hir good upon [hir] gigges, And finden hem of greet aray. 760 Alas! what think these men to say That thus dispenden goddis good? At the dredfull domes day Such wrecches shul be worse than wood. Some hir churc[h]es never ne sye, 765 Ne never o peny thider ne sende; Though the pore parishens for hunger dye, O peny on hem wil they nat spende. Have they receivinge of the rent, They reck never of the remënant; 770 Alas! the devill hath clene hem blent! Suche oon is Sathanas sojournant. And usen horedom and harlotry, Covetysë, pompe, and pride, Slouthë, wrathe, and eke envy, 775 And sewen sinne by every syde. Alas! where thinkë such t'abyde? How woll they accomptes yeld? From hy god they mow hem nat hyde, Such willers wit is nat worth a neld. 780 They ben so roted in richesse, That Christes povert is foryete, Served with so many messe, Hem thinketh that manna is no mete. All is good that they mow get, 785 They wenë to live evermore; But, whan god at dome is set, Such tresour is a feble store. Unneth mot they matins say, For counting and for court-holding; 790 And yet he jangleth as a jay, And understont him-self nothing. He woll serve bothe erl and king For his fynding and his fee, And hyde his tything and his offring; 795 This is a feble charitè. Other they ben proude, or coveytous, Or they ben harde, or [els] hungry, Or they ben liberall or lecherous, Or els medlers with marchandry; 800 Or maynteyners of men with maistry, Or stewardes, countours, or pledours, And serve god in hypocrisy; Such preestes ben Christes fals traytours! They ben false, they ben vengeable, 805 And begylen men in Christes name; They ben unstedfast and unstable; To tray hir lord, hem thinketh no shame. To servë god they ben full lame, Goddes theves, and falsly stele; 810 And falsly goddes word defame; In winning is hir worldes wele.