86 Alexander on the foolishness of Brahmin austerity

do no ill, [] pouert & wrechidnes riȝte as ȝe do. Ȝe say also þat ȝour wyfes
since their []
defect [] vseȝ na prowde aray for to plese þaire husbandeȝ, and þe cause
*Leaf 36 []
hinders [] es for þay hafe na noþer* thyng for till araye þam wit.¹ Also ȝe
them. []
Their chas- [] say ȝe do nane advoetries ne fornycacions. And þat es na
tity is due []
to want of [] meruaile! For-whi, how sulde, þat hafe luste to lechery þat
food. []
But the [] etes noȝte. Luste of lechery es noȝte comonly, bot yf it come
Brahmins []
live as mere [] of hete of þe leuer of ells of habudance of mete & drynke.

poverty and wretchedness right as ye do. Ye say also that your wives
use no proud array to please their husbands, and the cause
is that they have no other thing [to use] until their wit.¹ Also ye
say ye do no adultries nor fornications. And that is not
a marvel! For why; how should ye that have a lust for lechery that
eats naught? Lust for lechery is not commonplace, but it comes
from the heat of the beloved meat and drink.

86

Alexander on the foolishness of Brahmin austerity.

do no ill,
since their
defect

* Leaf 36.
hinders
them.

Their chas-
tity is due
to want of
food.
But the
Brahmins
live as mere
beasts.

pouert & wrechidnes ri^te as ^e do. ^e say also })at ^oyr wyfes

vse5 na prowde aray for to plese j^aire husbande^, and pe cause

es for })ay hafe na noj^er * thyng for titt araye ]?ani) wit} Also 56

say 5e do nane advowtries ne fornycacions. And )?at es na

meruaile! For-whi, how sulde. pa,j hafe luste to lechery ]:)at

etes no^te. Luste of lechery es no^te comonly, hot yf it come

of hete of ])e leuer or ells of habudance of mete & drynke.

Bot 5e ete na-thynge hot herbes & rote^, as 50 ware swyne;

& drynkes wat^r & vnnethes may 56 sloken) '^our hunger and

j^arefore ^e hafe nan) ajDpitite to women).

* 3e hafe na liste to studie aboute lerynge, ne 5e seke na

mercy ne dees nane till oper. And all this 56 hafe in comon)

w^t beste^. For rijte as beste^ base nowj^er reson) ne discrecion),

ne base na felynge of gude, ri5te so f)ay hafe na delite in gode.

Bot tin vs resonable men) fat has free will of kynde ere many

lykyng^s & blandeschynge^ granted! For it es im-possible f)at

J^is werlde wyde & brade sulde no5te hafe sum) chaungynge of

gouernance ; So J>at ne after heuyness & sorowe, loy & myrthe

sulde no^te folowe.'^ For-why manes wilt es variable & chaunge-

able pat chaunge5 wit pe heuen) abownn). On pe same wyse

manes hert es dyucrse. For when) pe day es clere, manes hert

even as the es gladde & blythe. And when) pe day es derke, manes wittis

are derke & dulte & heuy. Also men) chaunge^ thurgh dyuerse

ages. For barnehed'' reioyse it in sympiluesse, 50uthede in

presumptuosnes, And grete elde in stabilnes. For wha wilt

luke efter wysdome in a childe, In a 5unge man) stabittnes, or

in an aide man) wildenes 1 Many delitable thynges comej tilt

and old age oure mvnde. For sum) we See w^t oure eghne ; Sum) we hafe

stable.

Who will thurgh herynge ; Suin) we fele thurgh smellyng ; Sum) thurgh

tastynge; and Suin) thurgh towchynge. Sumtyme we Kafe

delite in salutacions & swete sange5 & melodys of dyuerse

Instrwmente^. Of J^e erthe we hafe al maner of gud fruytej ;

of j^e see we hafe habundance of fysche, and of pe ayere delyte

given us by of fewles of dyu^rse kyndis. If pou. abstene pe fra alt thies

and sky. ' owthir it es for pride or for envy. For pride, pat pon dispyse^

from thisTs ^w^^^® precyouse gifte^. For envy bi-cause Jjay ere no5te gyffen)

50W, as J)at fay ere to vs. Bot efter myn) opynyon) I deme fat

J

The Brah-
mins seek
no learn-
ing, having
beastlike
no feeling
or delight
in good.
But men
can rejoice
through
free will.
The

changes of
the world
and of the
ages of
man are

brightens
and

darkens,
even as a
child is
simple,
youth pre
sumptuous.

look for the
opposite ?
The de-
lights of the
senses and
of those
things

12

16

20

24

28

32

36 I

^ lie&f ^e, J>am wit ; leaf 36 /am mif.

' The second vowel infolowe is diflBcult to read.

It looks like fbleive.

I