Page:King Alfred's West-Saxon Version of Gregory's Pastoral Care (2).djvu/157

148 GREGORY'S PASTORAL. [Cotton MSS. XX. Đætte se reccere sceal gearlice [geornlice] wietan ðætte oft ða unðeawas liogað, & licettað ðæt hie sien gode ðeawas.

Eac sceal se reccere wiotan ðæt ða unðeawas beoð oft gelicette to godum ðeawum & to mægenum ðurh leasunga. Monig mon deð micel fæsten, & hæfð ðone hlisan ðæt he hit dó for forhæfdnesse, & deð hit ðeah for hneawnesse & for feohgidsunge. Monig bið agita his goda & wilnað mid ðy geearnian ðone hlisan ðæt he sie rumgiful, & wenað men ðæt he hit do for kystum, & bið ðeah for gilpe ma ðonne for lufan. Ond oft eac ungemetlice forgifnes bið gelicet, ðæt mon wene ðæt hit sie mildheortnes. Ond oft eac ungemetlicu irsung bið gelicet, ðæt men wenað ðæt hit sie ryhtwislic anda. Oft mon bið swide rempende, & ræsð swide dollice on ælc weorc & hrædlice, & [ðeah] wenað men ðæt hit sie for arudscipe & for hwætscipe. Oft mon bið swiðe wandigende æt ælcum weorce & swiðe lætræde, & wenað men ðæt hit sie for swarmodnesse & for unarodscipe, & bið ðeah for wisdome & for wærscipe. Forðæm is micel niedðearf ðæt se reccere ða ðeawas & ða unðeawas cunne wel toscadan, ðylæs se hneawa & se gidsigenda fægnige ðæs ðætte men wenen ðæt he sie gehealdsum on ðæm þe he healdan scyle ofte dælan. Oððe eft se gilpna & se agita for his goda mirringe gilpe, & wene ðæt he sie cystig & mildheort. Oððe eft se ðafetere, se þe wile forgiefan ðæt he wrecan sceolde, to ecium witum geteo his hieremen. Oððe eft se þe ungemetlice wricð þa scylda, ðæt he self swiður on ðæm ne gesyngige. Oððe eft ðæt he ryhtlice & stiðlice wrecan sceolde, ðæt he ðæt ne forielde, ðylæs se

XX. That the ruler must know well that vices often deceive, and pretend to be virtues. The ruler must also know well that vices often seem to be virtues and good qualities through deceit. Many a man fasts much, and has the reputation of doing it for abstinence, but does it, however, for niggardliness and avarice. Many a one is lavish of his property, wishing to gain the reputation of generosity, and men think he does it for virtue ; and it is, however, done rather for vanity than for charity. Often also excessive forgiveness seems to men to be humanity. And often, also, immoderate anger seems to men to be righteous indig- nation. A man is often very hasty, and rushes very senselessly and