<< And greet of prys in every place. 1035 But who-so durste to hir trespace, Or til hir folk, in worde or dede, He were ful hardy, out of drede; For bothe she helpe and hindre may: And that is nought of yisterday 1040 That riche folk have ful gret might To helpe, and eek to greve a wight. The beste and grettest of valour Diden Richesse ful gret honour, And besy weren hir to serve; 1045 For that they wolde hir love deserve, They cleped hir 'Lady,' grete and smalle; This wyde world hir dredeth alle; This world is al in hir daungere. Hir court hath many a losengere, 1050 And many a traytour envious, That been ful besy and curious For to dispreisen, and to blame That best deserven love and name. Bifore the folk, hem to bigylen, 1055 These losengeres hem preyse, and smylen, And thus the world with word anoynten; But afterward they [prikke] and poynten
>> De grant pris et de grant affaire. Qui à li ne as siens meffaire Osast riens par fais, ou par dis, Il fust moult fiers et moult hardis; Qu'ele puet moult nuire et aidier. Ce n'est mie ne d'ui ne d'ier Que riches gens out grant poissance De faire ou aïde, ou grévance. 1030 Tuit li greignor et li menor Portoient à Richece honor: Tuit baoient à li servir, Por l'amor de li deservir; Chascuns sa dame la clamoit, Car tous li mondes la cremoit; Tous li mons iert en son dangier. En sa cort ot maint losengier, Maint traïtor, maint envieus: Ce sunt cil qui sunt curieus 1040 De desprisier et de blasmer Tous ceus qui font miex à amer. Par devant, por eus losengier, Loent les gens li losengier; Tout le monde par parole oignent, Mès lor losenges les gens poignent
<< The folk right to the bare boon, Bihinde her bak whan they ben goon, 1060 And foule abate the folkes prys. Ful many a worthy man and wys, An hundred, have [they] don to dye, These losengeres, through flaterye; And maketh folk ful straunge be, 1065 Ther-as hem oughte be prive. Wel yvel mote they thryve and thee, And yvel aryved mote they be, These losengeres, ful of envye! No good man loveth hir companye. 1070 Richesse a robe of purpre on hadde, Ne trowe not that I lye or madde; For in this world is noon it liche, Ne by a thousand deel so riche, Ne noon so fair; for it ful wel 1075 With orfrays leyd was everydel, And portrayed in the ribaninges Of dukes stories, and of kinges. And with a bend of gold tasseled, And knoppes fyne of gold ameled. 1080 Aboute hir nekke of gentil entaile Was shet the riche chevesaile,