"For-thi," quod this vicory, "By verray God! I wolde That no cardynal coome Among the comune peple; But in hir holynesse Helden hem stille At Avynone among the Jewes,-- _Cum sancto sanctus eris, etc._-- Or in Rome, as hir rule wole, The relikes to kepe; 13810 And thow, Conscience, in kynges court, And sholdest nevere come thennes; And Grace, that thow graddest so of, Gyour of alle clerkes; And Piers with his newe plow, And ek with his olde, Emperour of al the world, That alle men were cristene. "Inparfit is that pope That al the world sholde helpe, 13820 And sendeth swiche that sleeth hem That he sholde save. "And wel worthe Piers the Plowman, That pursueth God in doynge, _Qui pluit super justos Et injustos_ at ones, And sent the sonne to save A cursed mannes tilthe, As brighte as to the beste man, Or to the beste womman. 13830 {422} "Right so Piers the Plowman Peyneth hym to tilye As wel for a wastour And wenches of the stewes, As for hymself and his servauntz, Save he is first y-served; And travailleth and tilieth For a tretour also soore As for a trewe tidy man, Alle tymes y-like. 13840 And worshiped be he that wroghte al, Bothe good and wikke, And suffreth that synfulle be, [Tyl som tyme that thei repenten]. And God amende the pope! That pileth holy kirke, And cleymeth bifore the kyng To be kepere over cristene; And counteth noght though cristene ben Killed and robbed; 13850 And fynt folk to fighte, And cristen blood to spille, Ayein the olde lawe and newe lawe, As Luc therof witnesseth. _Non occides, mihi vindictam, etc._ "It semeth, bi so Hymself hadde his wille, That he reccheth right noght Of al the remenaunt. And Crist of his curteisie 13860 The cardinals save, And torne hir wit to wisdom, And to welthe of soule! For the comune," quod this curatour, {423} "Counten ful litel The counseil of Conscience, Or cardinale vertues. But if thei seighe, as by sighte, Som what to wynnyng, Of gile ne of gabbyng 13870 Gyve thei nevere tale. For _spiritus prudentiæ_ Among the peple is gyle; And alle tho faire vertues As vices thei semeth. Ech man subtileth a sleighte Synne for to hide, And coloureth it for a konnynge, And a clene lyvynge." Thanne lough ther a lord, 13880 And "By this light!" seide, "I holde it right and reson Of my reve to take Al that myn auditour, Or ellis my styward, Counseilleth me bi hir acounte And my clerkes writyng. With _spiritus intellectus_ Thei seke the reves rolles; And with _spiritus fortitudinis_ 13890 Fecche it I wole after."