was lecherous. For which unto this Appius they gon, And cast him in a prison right anon, Where as he slew himself: and Claudius, That servant was unto this Appius, Was doomed for to hang upon a tree; But that Virginius, of his pitý, So prayed for him, that he was exil’d; And ellës certes had he been beguil’d; The remenant were hanged, more and less, That were consenting to this cursedness.
Here men may see how sin hath his meríte: Beware, for no man knows how God will smite In no degree, nor in which manner wise The worm of consciéncë may agrise Of wicked life, though it so privy be, That no man knows thereof, save God and he; For be he lewëd man or ellës lear’d, He knows not how soon he shall be afear’d; Therefore I redë you this counsel take, Forsakë sin, ere sinnë you forsake.