Confessio Amantis; Or, Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins. John Gower

Bot god forbiede that it were

       In oure daies that he seith:

       For if the Clerc beware his feith

       In chapmanhod at such a feire,

       The remenant mot nede empeire

       Of al that to the world belongeth;

       For whan that holi cherche wrongeth, 3070

       I not what other thing schal rihte.

       And natheles at mannes sihte

       Envie forto be preferred

       Hath conscience so differred,

       That noman loketh to the vice

       Which is the Moder of malice,

       And that is thilke false Envie,

       Which causeth many a tricherie;

       For wher he may an other se

       That is mor gracious than he, 3080

       It schal noght stonden in his miht

       Bot if he hindre such a wiht:

       And that is welnyh overal,

       This vice is now so general.

       Envie thilke unhapp indrowh,

       Whan Joab be deceipte slowh

       Abner, for drede he scholde be

       With king David such as was he.

       And thurgh Envie also it fell

       Of thilke false Achitofell, 3090

       For his conseil was noght achieved,

       Bot that he sih Cusy believed

       With Absolon and him forsake,

       He heng himself upon a stake.

       Senec witnesseth openly

       How that Envie proprely

       Is of the Court the comun wenche,

       And halt taverne forto schenche

       That drink which makth the herte brenne,

       And doth the wit aboute renne, 3100

       Be every weie to compasse

       How that he mihte alle othre passe,

       As he which thurgh unkindeschipe

       Envieth every felaschipe;

       So that thou miht wel knowe and se,

       Ther is no vice such as he,

       Ferst toward godd abhominable,

       And to mankinde unprofitable:

       And that be wordes bot a fewe

       I schal be reson prove and schewe. 3110

       Envie if that I schal descrive,

       He is noght schaply forto wyve

       In Erthe among the wommen hiere;

       For ther is in him no matiere

       Wherof he mihte do plesance.

       Ferst for his hevy continance

       Of that he semeth evere unglad,

       He is noght able to ben had;

       And ek he brenneth so withinne,

       That kinde mai no profit winne, 3120

       Wherof he scholde his love plese:

       For thilke blod which scholde have ese

       To regne among the moiste veines,

       Is drye of thilke unkendeli peines

       Thurgh whiche Envie is fyred ay.

       And thus be reson prove I may