Note E406 — 65.
Reading edition
The following poem on Evil Tongues is from a MS. of the 15th century, edited for the Percy Soc. by the late Mr. T. Wright, 1847:
"A man that con his tong stere, He ther not rek wer that he go."
"Ittes knowyn in every schyre, Wekyd tongges have no pere; I wold thei wer brent in the fer, That warke men soo mykyll wo.
Ittes knowyn in every lond, Wekyd tongges don gret wrong, Thei make me to lyyn long, And also in myche car.
Ȝyf a man go in clothes gay, Or elles in gud aray, Wekyd tongges yet wyl say, Wer cam the by therto?
Ȝyf a man go in cloys ill, And have not the world at wyl, Wekyd tongges thei wyll hym spyll, And seyd he ys a stake, lat hym goo.
Now us to amend God yeve us grace, Of repentens and of gud grace, That we mut se hys glorius face. Amen, Amen, for charyte."