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From The Parson's Tale, paragraph 76-77:
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Parson's Tale
Paragraph 78-79
The remedy against the sin of Gluttony


Remedium contra peccatum Gule

§ 78       Agayns Glotonye is the remedie abstinence, as seith Galien; but that holde I nat meritorie, if he do it oonly for the heele of his body. Seint Augustyn wole that abstinence be doon for vertu and with pacience. "Abstinence," he seith, "is litel worth, but if a man have good wil therto, and but it be enforced by pacience and by charitee, and that men doon it for Godes sake, and in hope to have the blisse of hevene".
The remedy against the sin of Gluttony

§ 78        Against Gluttony the remedy is abstinence, as says Galen; but that hold I not meritorious, if he do it only for the health of his body. Saint Augustine desires that abstinence be done for virtue and with patience. "Abstinence," he says, "is worth little unless a man have good will thereto, and unless it be strengthened by patience and by charity, and that men do it for God's sake, and in hope to have the bliss of heaven."

§ 79       The felawes of abstinence been attemperaunce, that holdeth the meene in alle thynges; eek shame, that eschueth alle deshonestee; surfisance, that seketh no riche metes ne drynkes, ne dooth no fors of to outrageous apparailynge of mete; mesure also, that restreyneth by resoun the deslavee appetit of etynge; sobrenesse also, that restreyneth the outrage of drynke; sparynge also, that restreyneth the delicaat ese to sitte longe at his mete and softely, wherfore some folk stonden of hir owene wyl to eten at the lasse leyser. § 79        The fellows of abstinence are temperance, that holds the mean in all things; also shame, that eschews all disgrace; satisfaction, that seeks no rich foods nor drinks, and does not care for excessive decoration of food; moderation also, that restrains by reason the unrestrained appetite of eating; soberness also, that restrains the excesses of drink; frugality also, that restrains the delicate ease to sit long at his food and luxuriously, therefore some people stand of their own will to have less time to eat.


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From The Parson's Tale, paragraph 80-81:
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