HERE BEGINNETH THE THREE AND FIFTIETH CHAPTER
Of divers unseemly practices that follow them that lack the
work of this book.
MANY wonderful practices follow them that be deceived in this false work, or in
any species thereof, beyond that doth them that be God's true disciples: for
they be evermore full seemly in all their practices, bodily or ghostly. But it
is not so of these other. For whoso would or might behold unto them where they
sit in this time, an it so were that their eyelids were open, he should see
them stare as they were mad, and leeringly look as if they saw the devil.
Surely it is good they be wary, for truly the fiend is not far. Some set their
eyes in their heads as they were sturdy sheep beaten in the head,
and as they should die anon. Some hang their heads on one side as if a worm
were in their ears. Some pipe when they should speak, as if there were no
spirit in their bodies: and this is the proper condition of an hypocrite. Some
cry and whine in their throats, so be they greedy and hasty to say that they
think: and this is the condition of heretics, and of them that with presumption
and with curiosity of wit will always maintain error.
Many unordained and unseemly practices follow
on this error, whoso might perceive all. Nevertheless some there be that be so
curious that they can refrain them in great part when they come before men. But
might these men be seen in place where they be homely, then I trow they should
not be hid. And nevertheless yet I trow that whoso would straitly gainsay their
opinion, that they should soon see them burst out in some point; and yet them
think that all that ever they do, it is for the love of God and for
to maintain the truth. Now truly I hope that unless God shew His merciful
miracle to make them soon leave off, they shall love God so long on this
manner, that they shall go staring mad to the devil. I say not that the devil
hath so perfect a servant in this life, that is deceived and infect with all
these fantasies that I set here: and nevertheless yet it may be that one, yea,
and many one, be infect with them all. But I say that he hath no perfect
hypocrite nor heretic in earth that he is not guilty in some that I have said,
or peradventure shall say if God vouchsafeth.
For some men are so cumbered in nice curious
customs in bodily bearing, that when they shall ought hear, they writhe their
heads on one side quaintly, and up with the chin: they gape with their mouths
as they should hear with their mouth and not with their ears. Some when they
should speak point with their fingers, either on their fingers, or
on their own breasts, or on theirs that they speak to. Some can neither sit
still, stand still, nor lie still, unless they be either wagging with their
feet or else somewhat doing with their hands. Some row with their arms in time
of their speaking, as them needed for to swim over a great water. Some be
evermore smiling and laughing at every other word that they speak, as they were
giggling girls and nice japing jugglers lacking behaviour. Seemly cheer were
full fair, with sober and demure bearing of body and mirth in manner.
I say not that all these unseemly practices be
great sins in themselves, nor yet all those that do them be great sinners
themselves. But I say if that these unseemly and unordained practices be
governors of that man that doth them, insomuch that he may not leave them when
he will, then I say that they be tokens of pride and curiosity of wit, and of
unordained shewing and covetyse of knowing. And specially they be
very tokens of unstableness of heart and unrestfulness of mind, and specially
of the lacking of the work of this book. And this is the only reason why that I
set so many of these deceits here in this writing; for why, that a ghostly
worker shall prove his work by them.