Ac pees-coddes and pere-ronettes, Plomes and chiries, That lyghtliche launceth up, Litel wile dureth, And that that rathest rypeth, Roteth most sannest. On fat londe and ful of donge Foulest wedes groweth, Right so, for sothe, Suche that ben bysshopes, Erles and archdekenes, And other ryche clerkes. That chaffaren as chapmen, And chiden bote thei wynne, And haven the worlde at here wil Other wyse to lyve; Right as weodes wexen In wose and in dunge, So of rychesse upon richesse Arist al vices. Lo! lond overe-layde With marle and with donge, Whete that wexeth theron Worth lygge ar hit repe; Right so, for sothe, For to sigge treuthe, Over plenté pryde norssheth Ther poverte destrueth hit. For how hit evere be y-wonne, Bote hit be wel dispended, Worliche wele is wuked thynge To hym that hit kupeth. For yf he be feer therfro, Ful ofte hath he drede That fals folke fetche away Felonliche hus godes. And yut more hit maketh men Meny time and ofte To synegen, and to souchen Soteltees of gyle, For covetyze of that catel To culle hem that hit kepeth; And so is meny men y-morthred For hus money and goodes; And tho that duden the dede Y-dampned therfore after, And he, for hus harde heldynge, In helle paraunter; So covetise of catel Was combraunce to hem alle. Lo! how pans purchasede Faire places, and drede, That rote is robbers The richesse withynne. [_Passus quartus de Dowel._]