[Sidenote: [The ferthe Met{ur}.]]
++What deliteþ it ȝow to exciten so grete moewynges of hatredes {and} to
hasten {and} bisien [the] fatal disposic{i}ou{n} of ȝoure deeþ wiþ ȝoure
p{ro}pre handes. þat is to seyn by batailes or [by] contek. for yif ȝe
axen þe deeþ it hastisiþ hym of hys owen wille. ne deeþ ne tarieþ nat
hys swifte hors. and [the] men þat þe serpentȝ {and} þe lyou{n}s. {and}
þe tigre. {and} þe beere {and} þe boore seken to sleen wiþ her teþe. ȝit
þilke same men seken to sleen eueryche of hem oþer wiþ swerde. loo for
her man{er}s ben diuerse {and} discordaunt ¶ þei moeuen vnryȝtful oostes
{and} cruel batailes. {and} wilne to p{er}isse by enterchaungynge of
dartes. but þe resou{n} of cruelte nis nat ynouȝ ryȝtful. wilt þou þan
ȝelden a couenable gerdou{n} to þe desertes of men ¶ Loue ryȝtfully
goode folk[;] {and} haue pite on shrewes.