An heep of heremytes Henten hem spades, And kitten hir copes, And courtepies hem maked, And wente as werkmen With spades and with shoveles And dolven and dikeden, To dryve awey hunger. Blynde and bed-reden 4180 Were bootned a thousande, That seten to begge silver, Soone were thei heeled; For that was bake for bayarde, Was boote for many hungry; And many a beggere for benes Buxum was to swynke; And eche a povere man wel a-paied {129} To have pesen for his hyre, And what Piers preide hem to do, 4190 As prest as a sperhauk; And therof was Piers proud, And putte hem to werke, And yaf hem mete as he myghte aforthe, And mesurable hyre. Thanne had Piers pité, And preide Hunger to wende Hoom unto his owene yerd, And holden hym there; "For I am wel a-wroke 4200 Of wastours, thorugh thy myghte. Ac I preie thee, er thow passe," Quod Piers to Hunger, "Of beggeris and of bidderis What best be to doone. For I woot wel, be thow went, Thei wol werche ful ille; For meschief it maketh Thei be so meke nouthe, And for defaute of hire foode 4210 This folk is at my wille. "Thei are my blody bretheren," quod Piers, "For God boughte us alle. Truthe taughte me ones To loven hem echone; And to helpen hem of alle thyng Ay as hem nedeth. And now wolde I wite of thee What were the beste; And how I myghte a-maistren hem, 4220 And make hem to werche." {130} "Here now," quod Hunger, "And hoold it for a wisdom; Bolde beggeris and bigge That mowe hir breed bi-swynke, With houndes breed and horse breed Hoold up hir hertes; A-bate hem with benes, For bollynge of hir wombes; And if the gomes grucche, 4230 Bidde hem go swynke, And he shal soupe swetter Whan he it hath deserved. "And if thow fynde any freke That fortune hath apeired, Or any manere false men, Fonde thow swiche to knowe; Conforte hym with thi catel, For Cristes love of hevene; Love hem and leve hem, 4240 So lawe of God techeth, _Alter alterius onera portare._ "And alle manere of men That thow myght aspie, That nedy ben and noughty, Help hem with thi goodes; Love hem and lakke hem noght, Lat God take the vengeaunce; Theigh thei doon yvele, Lat God y-worthe. 4250 _Mihi vindictam, et ego retribuam._ "And if thow wilt be gracious to God, Do as the gospel techeth, And bi-love thee amonges lewed men, So shaltow lacche grace; {131} _Facite vos amicos de Mammone iniquitatis._" = "I wolde noght greve God," quod Piers, "For al the good on grounde. Mighte I synne-lees do as thow seist?" 4260 Seide Piers thanne.