[Sidenote: [the secu{n}de met{ur}.]]
++ÞOuȝ plentee þat is goddesse of rycches hielde adou{n} wiþ ful horn.
{and} wiþdraweþ nat hir hand. ¶ As many recches as þe see turneþ
vpwardes sandes whan it is moeued wiþ rauysshing blastes. or ellys as
many rycches as þer shynen bryȝt[e] sterres on heuene on þe sterry nyȝt.
Ȝit for al þat mankynde nolde not cesce to wope wrecched[e] pleyntes.
¶ And al be it so þat god receyueþ gladly her p{ra}yers {and} ȝeueþ hem
as ful large muche golde {and} app{ar}aileþ coueytous folk wiþ noble or
clere hono{ur}s. ȝit semeþ hem haue I-gete noþing. but alwey her cruel
ravyne deuourynge al þat þei han geten shewiþ oþer gapinges. þat is to
seye gapen {and} desiren ȝit after moo rycchesse. ¶ What brideles myȝten
wiþholde to any certeyne ende þe desordene coueitise of men ¶ Whan euere
þe raþer þ{a}t it fletiþ in large ȝiftis: þe more ay brenneþ in hem þe
þrest of hauyng. ¶ Certis he þat quakyng {and} dredeful weneþ hym seluen
nedy. he ne lyueþ neu{er}e mo ryche.