For Christ him-selfe is lykned to me, That for his people dyed on rode; As fare I, right so fareth he, 1295 He fedeth his birdes with his blode. But these don yvell +ayenës good, And ben his foon under frendes face; I tolde hem how hir living stood; God amende hem, for his grace!" 1300 PLOWMAN. "What ayleth the Griffon, tell [me] why, That he holdeth on that other syde?" PELLICAN. "For they two ben [of kind], lykly, And with [lyk] kindes robben wyde. The foul betokeneth [evill] pryde, 1305 As Lucifer, that hygh +flowe was; And sith he did him in evell hyde, For he agilted goddes grace. As bird [that] flyeth up in the ayr, And liveth by birdes that ben meke, 1310 So these be flowe up in dispayr, And shenden sely soules eke. The soules that ben in sinnes seke, He culleth hem; knele therfore, alas! For brybry goddes forbode breke, 1315 God amende it, for his grace! The hinder part is a lyoun, A robber and a ravinere, That robbeth the people in erth a-down, And in erth holdeth non his pere; 1320 So fareth this foul, both fer and nere; With temporel strength they people chase, As a lyon proud in erthë here; God amende hem for hys grace!" He flew forth with his winges twayn, 1325 All drouping, dased, and dull. But soone the Griffon cam agayn, Of his foules the erth was full; The Pellican he had cast to pull. So greet a nombre never seen ther was; 1330 What maner of foules, tellen I woll, If god woll give me of his grace. With the Griffon comen foules fele, Ravins, rokes, crowes, and pye, Gray foules, agadred wele, 1335 Y-gurd, above they woldë hye. Gledes and bosardes weren hem by; Whyt molles and puttockes token hir place; And lapwinges, that wel conneth ly, This felowship han for-gerd hir grace. 1340 Longe the Pellican was out, But at [the] laste he cometh agayn; And brought with him the Phenix stout. The Griffon wolde have flowe full fayn; His foules, that flewen as thycke as rayn, 1345 The Phenix tho began hem chace; To fly from him it was in vayn, For he did vengeaunce and no grace. He slew hem down without mercy, Ther astartë neyther free ne thrall; 1350 On him they cast a rufull cry When the Griffon down was fall. He beet hem not, but slew hem all; Whither he hem drove, no man may trace; Under the erthe, me thought, they yall; 1355 Alas! they had a feble grace! The Pellican then axed right, "For my wryting if I have blame, Who woll for me fight of flight? Who shall sheldë me from shame? 1360 He that had a mayd to dame, The lamb that slayn [for sinners] was, Shall sheldë me from gostly blame; For erthly harm is goddes grace.