[Sidenote: Through penance we may shine as a pearl.] & pure þe with penau{n}ce tyl þ{o}u a perle worþe. 1116 [Sidenote: [Fol. 72b.]] [Sidenote: Why is the pearl so prized?] Perle praysed is prys, þ{er} perre is schewed, Þaȝ hy{m} not derrest be demed to dele for penies, Quat may þe cause be called, bot for hir clene hwes, Þat wy{n}nes worschyp, abof alle whyte stones? 1120 For ho schynes so schyr þat is of schap rou{n}de, Wyth-outen faut oþ{er} fylþe ȝif ho fyn were; [Sidenote: She becomes none the worse for wear.] & wax eu{er} i{n} þe worlde i{n} wery{n}g so olde, Ȝet þe perle payres not whyle ho i{n} pyese lasttes 1124 [Sidenote: If she should become dim, wash her in wine.] & if hit cheue þe chau{n}ce vncheryst ho worþe, Þat ho blyndes of ble i{n} bo{ur} þ{er} ho lygges, No-bot wasch hir wyth wo{ur}chyp i{n} wyn as ho askes, [Sidenote: She then becomes clearer than before.] Ho by kynde schal be-com clerer þen are; 1128 So if folk be defowled by vnfre chau{n}ce, [Sidenote: So may the sinner polish him by penance.] Þat he be sulped i{n} sawle, seche to schryfte & he may polyce hym at þe prest, by penau{n}ce taken, Wel bryȝt{er} þen þe beryl oþ{er} browden perles. 1132 [Sidenote: Beware of returning to sin.] Bot war þe wel, if þ{o}u be waschen wyth wat{er} of schryfte, & polysed als playn as parchmen schauen, Sulp no more þe{n}ne i{n} sy{n}ne þy saule þ{er}-aft{er}, [Sidenote: For then God is more displeased than ever.] For þe{n}ne þ{o}u dryȝtyn dyspleses w{i}t{h} dedes ful sore, 1136 & entyses hy{m} to tene more trayþly þe{n} eu{er} & wel hatt{er} to hate þe{n} hade þ{o}u not waschen; [Sidenote: The reconciled soul God holds as His own.] For when a sawele is saȝtled & sakred to dryȝtyn, He holly haldes hit his & haue hit he wolde, 1140 Þe{n}ne efte lastes hit likkes, he loses hit ille, [Sidenote: Ill deeds rob Him of it.] As hit were rafte wyth vn-ryȝt & robbed wyth þewes.[58] War þe þe{n}ne for þe wrake, his wrath is achaufed, [Headnote: GOD PUNISHES IMPURITY.]