The thridde seed that Piers sew Was _spiritus fortitudinis_. And who ete that seed, Hardy was he evere To suffren al that God sente, Siknesse and angres; Mighte no lesynges ne lyere, 13540 Ne los of worldly catel, Maken hym for any mournynge That he nas murie in soule, And bold and abidynge Bismares to suffre; And pleieth al with pacience And _parce mihi domine_; And covered hym under conseille Of Caton the wise: _Esto forti animo, cum sis dampnatus inique._ = The ferthe seed that Piers sew 13552 Was _spiritus justitiæ_. And he that ete of that seed, Sholde be evere trewe, With God, and naught a-gast, But of gile one; For gile gooth so pryvely, That good feith outher while {414} Maye nought ben espied, 13560 For _spiritus justitiæ_. _Spiritus justitiæ._ Spareth noght to spille Hem that ben gilty, And for to correcte The kyng, if he falle In gilt or in trespas. For counteth he no kynges wrathe, Whan he in court sitteth To demen as a domesman, 13570 A-drad was he nevere Neither of duc ne of deeth, That he ne dide lawe, For present or for preiere, Or any prynces lettres; He dide equité to alle Evene forth his power. Thise foure sedes Piers sew; And siththe he dide hem harewe With olde lawe and newe lawe, 13580 That love myghte wexe Among tho foure vertues, And vices destruye. For comunliche in contrees Cammokes and wedes Foulen the fruyt in the feld, Ther thei growen togideres; And so doon vices Vertues worthi. Quod Piers, "Hareweth alle that konneth kynde wit, By conseil of thise doctours; 13591 And tilieth after hir techynge {415} The cardynale vertues." "Ayeins thei greynes," quod Grace, "Bi-gynneth for to ripe, Ordeigne thee an hous, Piers, To herberwe inne thi cornes." "By God! Grace," quod Piers, "Ye moten gyve tymber, And ordeyne that hous, 13600 Er ye hennes wende." And Grace gaf hym the cros, With the croune of thornes, That Crist upon Calvarie For mankynde on pyned, And of his baptisme and blood That he bledde on roode He made a manere morter, And mercy it highte. And therwith Grace bi-gan 13610 To make a good foundement, And watlede it and walled it With his peyne and his passion, And of al holy writ He made a roof after, And called that hous _Unitee_, Holy chirche on Englisshe. And whan this dede was doon, Grace devysede A cart highte cristendom 13620 To carie Piers sheves; And gaf hym caples to his carte, Contricion and confession; And made preesthod hayward, The while hymself wente As wide as the world is {416} With Piers to tilie truthe.