'"'More weþer †louyly† is me my gyfte 205 To do wyth myn quat so me lykeȝ? Oþer elleȝ þyn yȝe to lyþer is lyfte For I am goude and non byswykeȝ?' 'Þus schal I,' quod Kryste, 'hit skyfte: Þe laste schal be þe fyrst þat strykeȝ, 210 And þe fyrst be laste, be he neuer so swyft; For mony ben calle<d>, þaȝ fewe be mykeȝ.'" Þus pore men her part ay pykeȝ, Þaȝ þay com late and lyttel wore; And þaȝ her sweng wyth lyttel atslykeȝ, 215 Þe merci of God is much þe more. 'More haf I of ioye and blysse hereinne, Of ladyschyp gret and lyueȝ blom, Þen alle þe wyȝeȝ in þe worlde myȝt wynne By þe way of ryȝt to aske dome. 220 Wheþer welnygh now I con bygynne— In euentyde into þe vyne I come— Fyrst of my hyre my Lorde con mynne, I watȝ payed anon of al and sum. Ȝet oþer þer werne þat toke more tom, 225 Þat swange and swat for long ȝore, Þat ȝet of hyre no þynk þay nom, Paraunter noȝt schal toȝere more.' Then more I meled and sayde apert: 'Me þynk þy tale vnresounable; 230 Goddeȝ ryȝt is redy and euermore rert, Oþer Holy Wryt is bot a fable; In Sauter is sayd a verce ouerte Þat spekeȝ a poynt determynable: "Þou quyteȝ vchon as hys desserte, 235 Þou hyȝe Kyng ay pretermynable." Now he þat stod þe long day stable, And þou to payment com hym byfore, Þenne þe lasse in werke to take more able, And euer þe lenger þe lasse þe more.' 240 'Of more and lasse in Godeȝ ryche,' Þat gentyl sayde, 'lys no ioparde, For þer is vch mon payed ilyche, Wheþer lyttel oþer much be hys rewarde, For þe gentyl Cheuentayn is no chyche; 245 Queþersoeuer He dele nesch oþer harde, He laueȝ Hys gyfteȝ as water of dyche, Oþer goteȝ of golf þat neuer charde. Hys fraunchyse is large þat euer dard To Hym þat matȝ in synne rescoghe; 250 No blysse betȝ fro hem reparde, For þe grace of God is gret inoghe. [Foot-note: 9 kyþeȝ] lyþeȝ _MS._] [Foot-note: 22 manereȝ] marereȝ _MS._] [Foot-note: 36 and] in _MS._] [Foot-note: 112 _a line omitted in MS._] [Foot-note: 119 he] ho _MS._] [Foot-note: 164 pay] pray _MS._] [Foot-note: 169 date of day] day of date _MS._] [Foot-note: 172 hem] hen _MS._] [Foot-note: 178 and] & & _MS._] [Foot-note: 186 ilyche] īlyche _MS._] [Foot-note: 243 ilyche] inlyche _MS._] VII THE GEST HYSTORIALE OF THE DESTRUCTION OF TROY ABOUT 1375.