English poem
And also,' quath Reson
by William Langland (1332–1386)
'And also,' quath Reson, 'Ich rede yow, riche And comuners, to acorden In alle kynne treuthe. Let no kynne consail Ne covetyze yow departe, That on wit and on wil Alle youre wardes kepe. Lo! in hevene on hy Was an holy comune, Til Lucifer the lyere Leyved that hymselve Were wittyour and worthiour Than he that was hus maister. Hold yow in unité. And ye that hother wolde Is cause of alle combraunce To confounde a reame.
2586. Matt. xxv, 12.
2594. Whitaker's Passus Sextus ends with this line.