[Sidenote: [SACRILEGE.]] xii. _Sacrilegus tantum furto loca sacra prophanat;_ _Vt sibi sunt agri, sic domus alma dei._ _Nec locus est, in quo non temptat amans quod amatur,_ _Et que posse nequit carpere, velle capit._ [Sidenote: Hic tractat super vltima Cupiditatis specie, que Sacrilegium dicta est, cuius furtum ea que altissimo sanctificantur bona depredans ecclesie tantum spoliis insidiatur.] The hihe god, which alle goode Pourveied hath for mannes fode Of clothes and of mete and drinke, Bad Adam that he scholde swinke To geten him his sustienance; And ek he sette an ordinance (7000*) Upon the lawe of Moïses,[587] That though a man be haveles, Yit schal he noght be thefte stele. Bot nou adaies ther ben fele, 6970 That wol no labour undertake, Bot what thei mai be Stelthe take Thei holde it sikerliche wonne. And thus the lawe is overronne, Which god hath set, and namely With hem that so untrewely The goodes robbe of holi cherche. [Sidenote: =P. ii. 363=] The thefte which thei thanne werche Be name is cleped Sacrilegge, Ayein the whom I thenke alegge.* 6980 Of his condicion to telle, Which rifleth bothe bok and belle, * * * * * [588]*Upon the pointz as we ben taught[589] Stant sacrilege, and elles nought. The firste point is for to seye, Whan that a thief schal stele aweye The holy thing from holy place. The secounde is, if he pourchace 7020* By wey of thefte unholy thing, Which he upon his knowleching Fro holy place aweie took. The thridde point, as seith the book, Is such as, wher as evere it be,[590] In woode, in feld or in Cite, Schal no man stele by no wise That halwed is to the servise Of god which alle thinges wot. But ther is nouther cold ne hot, 7030* Which he for god or man wol spare, So that the body may wel fare; And that he may the world aschape, The hevene him thenkth is but a jape:[591] And thus, the sothe for to telle, He rifleth bothe book and belle,[592] So forth with al, etc. (_as_ 6983 ff.) * * * * *