And thanne wellede water For wikkede werkes, Egreliche ernynge Out of mennes eighen, Clennesse out of comune, 13720 And clerkes clene lyvynge, Made Unitee holy chirche In holynesse to stonde. "I care noght," quod Conscience, "Though Pride come nouthe. The lord of lust shal be letted Al this lente, I hope. Cometh," quod Conscience, {419} "Ye cristene, and dyneth, That han laboured lelly 13730 Al this lenten tyme. Here is breed y-blessed, And Goddes body therunder: Grace, thorugh Goddes word, Yaf Piers power And myghtes to maken it, And men to ete it after In helpe of hir heele Ones in a monthe, Or as ofte as thei hadde nede, 13740 Tho that hadde y-paied To Piers pardon the Plowman. _Redde quod debes._" "How?" quod al the comune, "Thow conseillest us to yelde Al that we owen any wight, Er we go to housel?" "That is my conseil," quod Conscience, "And cardinale vertues, That ech man for-gyve oother, 13750 And that wol the pater-noster. _Et dimitte nobis debita nostra, etc._ And so to ben assoilled, And siththen ben houseled." "Ye, baw!" quod a brewere, "I wol noght be ruled, By Jhesu! for al youre janglynge With _spiritus justitiæ_, Ne after Conscience, by Crist! While I kan selle 13760 Bothe dregges and draf, And drawe it out at oon hole {420} Thikke ale and thynne ale, For that is my kynde, And noght hakke after holynesse. Hold thi tonge, Conscience! Of _spiritus justitiæ_, Thow spekest muche on ydel." "Caytif!" quod Conscience, "Cursede wrecche! 13770 Un-blessed artow, brewere, But if thee God helpe. But thow lyve by loore Of _spiritus justitiæ_, The chief seed that Piers sew, Y-saved worstow nevere. But Conscience the comune fede, And cardinale vertues, Leve it wel, thei ben lost, Bothe lif and soule." 13780 "Thanne is many a man lost," Quod a lewed vicory.-- "I am a curatour of holy kirke, And cam nevere in my tyme Man to me, that me kouthe telle Of cardinale vertues, Or that acountede Conscience At a cokkes fethere or an hennes. I knew nevere cardynal, That he ne cam fro the pope; 13790 And we clerkes, whan thei come, For hir comunes paieth, For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete, And pilours that hem folweth. "The comune _clamat cotidie_ Ech a man til oother, {421} The contree is the corseder That cardinals comme inne; And ther thei ligge and lenge moost, Lecherie there regneth. 13800