XXII
In greene vine leaves he was right fitly clad;
190
For other clothes he could not weare for
heat,
And on his head an yvie girland had,
From under which fast trickled downe the
sweat:
Still as he rode, he somewhat still did
eat,
And in his hand did beare a bouzing can,
195
Of which he supt so oft, that on his seat
His dronken corse he scarse upholden can,
In shape and life more like a monster, then a man.
XXIII
Unfit he was for any worldly thing,
And eke unhable once to stirre or go,
200
Not meet to be of counsell to a king,
Whose mind in meat and drinke was drowned
so,
That from his friend he seldome knew his
fo:
Full of diseases was his carcas blew,
And a dry dropsie[*] through his flesh
did flow: 205
Which by misdiet daily greater grew:
Such one was Gluttony, the second of that crew.
XXIV
And next to him rode lustfull Lechery,
Upon a bearded Goat, whose rugged haire,
And whally eyes (the signe of gelosy),
210
Was like the person selfe, whom he did
beare:
Who rough, and blacke, and filthy did
appeare,
Unseemely man to please faire Ladies eye;
Yet he of Ladies oft was loved deare,
When fairer faces were bid standen by:
215
O who does know the bent of womens fantasy?
XXV
In a greene gowne he clothed was full faire,
Which underneath did hide his filthinesse,
And in his hand a burning hart he bare,
Full of vaine follies, and new fanglenesse,
220
For he was false, and fraught with ficklenesse;
And learned had to love with secret lookes;
And well could daunce, and sing with ruefulnesse,
And fortunes tell, and read in loving
bookes,
And thousand other wayes, to bait his fleshly hookes.
225
XXVI
Inconstant man, that loved all he saw,
And lusted after all that he did love;
Ne would his looser life be tide to law,
But joyd weak wemens hearts to tempt and
prove,
If from their loyall loves he might them
move; 230
Which lewdnesse fild him with reprochfull
paine
Of that fowle evill, which all men reprove,
That rots the marrow and consumes the
braine:
Such one was Lecherie, the third of all this traine.
XXVII
And greedy Avarice by him did ride,
235
Upon a Camell[*] loaden all with gold;
Two iron coffers hong on either side,
With precious mettall full as they might
hold;
And in his lap an heape of coine he told;
For of his wicked pelfe his God he made,
240
And unto hell him selfe for money sold;
Accursed usurie was all his trade,
And right and wrong ylike in equall ballaunce waide.