Now comth Ianglinge, that may nat been withoute sinne. And, as seith
Salomon, ‘it is a sinne of apert folye.’ / And therfore a philosophre
seyde, whan men axed him how that men sholde plese the peple; and he
answerde, ‘do many gode werkes, and spek fewe Iangles.’ /650
After this comth the sinne of Iaperes, that been the develes apes; for they
maken folk to laughe at hir Iaperie, as folk doon at [611] the gaudes of an
ape. Swiche Iaperes deffendeth seint Paul. / Loke how that vertuouse wordes
and holy conforten hem that travaillen in the service of Crist; right so
conforten the vileyns wordes and knakkes of Iaperis hem that travaillen in
the service of the devel. / Thise been the sinnes that comen of the tonge,
that comen of Ire and of othere sinnes mo. /