And yive hire good ynouh to spende[527] For evere whil sche scholde live: And thus the Senne was foryive [Sidenote: =P. ii. 346=] And al the pestilence cessed. [Sidenote: Confessor.] Lo, what it is to ben encressed Of love which is evele wonne. It were betre noght begonne Than take a thing withoute leve, Which thou most after nedes leve, 6480 And yit have malgre forth withal. Forthi to robben overal In loves cause if thou beginne, I not what ese thou schalt winne. Mi Sone, be wel war of this, For thus of Robberie it is.[528] [Sidenote: Amans.] Mi fader, youre ensamplerie In loves cause of Robberie I have it riht wel understonde. Bot overthis, hou so it stonde, 6490 Yit wolde I wite of youre aprise What thing is more of Covoitise. [Sidenote: [STEALTH AND MICHERY.]] xi. _Insidiando latens tempus rimatur et horam_[529] _Fur, quibus occulto tempore furta parat._[530] _Sic amor insidiis vacat, vt sub tegmine ludos_[531] _Prendere furtiuos nocte fauente queat._ With Covoitise yit I finde A Servant of the same kinde, [Sidenote: Hic tractat super illa Cupiditatis specie, que secretum latrocinium dicitur, cuius natura custode[532] rerum nesciente ea que cupit tam per diem quam per noctem absque strepitu clanculo furatur.] Which Stelthe is hote, and Mecherie With him is evere in compainie. Of whom if I schal telle soth, He stalketh as a Pocok doth, And takth his preie so covert, That noman wot it in apert. 6500 [Sidenote: =P. ii. 347=] For whan he wot the lord from home,[533] Than wol he stalke aboute and rome; And what thing he fint in his weie, Whan that he seth the men aweie, He stelth it and goth forth withal, That therof noman knowe schal. And ek fulofte he goth a nyht Withoute Mone or sterreliht, And with his craft the dore unpiketh, And takth therinne what him liketh: 6510 And if the dore be so schet, That he be of his entre let, He wole in ate wyndou crepe, And whil the lord is faste aslepe, He stelth what thing as him best list, And goth his weie er it be wist. (6550*) Fulofte also be lyhte of day Yit wole he stele and make assay;[534] Under the cote his hond he put, Til he the mannes Purs have cut, 6520 And rifleth that he fint therinne. And thus he auntreth him to winne, And berth an horn and noght ne bloweth, For noman of his conseil knoweth; What he mai gete of his Michinge, It is al bile under the winge. And as an hound that goth to folde