Hoccleve's works. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[HOCCLEVE'S MEETING AND DIALOGUE WITH AN OLD BEGGAR.]

(17)

¶ Passe ouer whanne þis stormy nyght was gon, [folio 3a] Line 113 And day gan at my wyndowe in to prye, I roos me vp, for bootë fonde I non In myn vnresty bed lenger to lye; In-to þe feld I dressed me in hye, Line 117 And in my wo, y herte-depe gan wade, As he þat was bareyne of þoghtës glade. Line 119

(18)

¶ By þat I walkyd hadde a certeine tyme, Line 120 Were it an houre, I not or more or lesse, A poore olde horë man cam walkyng by me, And seydë, "good day, syre, & god yow blysse!" But I no word; for my seekly distresse Line 124 ffor-bad myn eres vsen hire office, ffor which þis olde man helde me lewed & nyce,

(19)

¶ Tyl he tooke hedë to my drery chere, Line 127 And to my deedly colour pale & wan; Thanne thoghte he þus:—þis man þat I se here, Al wrong is wrestid, by oght þat I se can: He sterte vp to me, & seyde, "scleepys þou, man? Awake!" & gan me schakë wonder faste, And with a sigh I answerde attë laste. Line 133

(20. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "A! who is þer?" "I," quod þis oldë greye, Line 134 "Am heer," & he me toldë the manere How he spak to me, as ye herd me seye; "O man," quoþ I, "for cristës louë dere, ¶ If þat þou wolt aght done at my preyere, Line 138 As go þi way, talkë to me no more, Þi wordës al annoyen me ful sore; Line 140

(21. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "Voydë fro me; me list no compaignye; [folio 3b] Line 141 Encressë noght my grife; I haue I-now." ¶ "My sone, hast þou good lust þi sorwe drye, And mayst releuëd be? what man art þou? Wirke after me! it schal be for þi prow; Line 145 Þou nart but ȝong, and hast but litel seen, And ful seelde is, þat ȝong folk wysë been. Line 147

(22. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "If þat þe likë to ben esyd wel, Line 148 As suffre me with þe to talke a whyle. Art þou aght lettred?" "ya," quod I, "som dele." "Blissed be god! þan hope I, by seint Gyle, Þat god to þe þi wit schal reconsyle, Line 152 Which þat me þinkeþ is fer fro þe went, Þorgh þe assent of þi greuouse turment. Line 154

Line 154

(23. Beggar.)

¶ "Lettered folk han gretter discrecioun, Line 155 And bet conceyuë konne a mannes saw, And raþer wole applië to resoun And from folyë soner hem with-draw, Þan he þat noþer reson can, ne law, Line 159 Ne lerned haþ no maner of lettrure: Plukke vp þin herte! I hope I schal þe cure."

(24. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Curë, good man? ya, þow arte a fayre leche! Line 162 Curë þi self, þat tremblest as þou gost, ffor al þin art wole enden in þi speche; It liþ not in þi power, porë gost, To helë me; þou art as seek almost Line 166 As I; first on þi self kyþë þin art; And if aght leue, late me þanne hauë part. Line 168

(25. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Go forth þi way, I þe preye, or be stylle; [folio 4a] Line 169 Þou dost me more annoy þan þat þou wenest; Þou art as ful of clap as is a mylle; Þou dost nought heer, but greuest me & tenest. Good man, þou woste but lytyl what þou menest; Line 173 In þe, liþe not redressë my nuysance, And ȝit þou mayste be wele willéd perchaunce.

(26. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "It mostë be a greter man of myght Line 176 Þan þat þou art, þat scholdë me releue." ¶ "What, sone myn! þou felist not a-right! To herkene me, what schal it harme or greue?" "Peter! good man, þogh we talke here tyl eue, Al is in veyne; þi myght may nat atteyne To helë me, swich is my woful peyne." Line 182

Line 182

(27. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "What þat I may or can, ne wost þou noght; Line 183 Hardyly, sonë, telle on how it is!" ¶ "Man, at a word, it is encombrous þoght Þat causeþ me þis sorowe & fare amys." ¶ "Now, sone, & if þer no þing be but þis, Line 187 Do as I schal þe seye, & þin estat Amende I schal, but þou be obstinat, Line 189

(28. Beggar.)

¶ "And wilfully rebelle & dissobeye, Line 190 And liste not to my lorë the conforme; ffor in swiche cas, what scholde I speke or seye, Or in my bestë wysë þe enforme? If þow it wayue, & take an oþer forme Line 194 After þi childissh mysrulëd conceyt, Þou dost vn-to þi self, harm & deceit. Line 196

(29. Beggar.)

¶ "O þing seye I, if þou go feërlees [folio 4b] Line 197 Al solytarie, & counsel lakke, & rede, As me þinkeþ, þi gyse is doutelees, Þou likly art to bere a dotyd heed. Whil þou art soulë, þoght is wastyng seed, Line 201 Swich in þe, & þat in grete foysoun, And þou redeles, nat canst voyde his poysoun.

(30. Beggar.)

¶ "The boke seiþ þus,—I redde it yore agon,— Line 204 'Wo be to hym þat list to ben allone! ffor if he fallë, helpe ne haþ he non To rysë'; þis seye I by þi persone; I fonde þe soul, & þi wyttës echone Line 208 ffer fro þe fled, & disparpled ful wyde; Wherefore it semeþ, þe nediþ a gyde, Line 210

Line 210

(31. Beggar.)

¶ "Which þat þe may vnto þi wyttës lede; Line 211 Þou graspist heer & þere, as doþ þe blynde, And ay mys-gost; & ȝit haue I no drede, If þou receyuë wold in-to þi mynde My lore, & execute it, þou schalt fynde Line 215 Þere-in swiche esë, þat þi maladye A-bregge it schal, & þi maléncolye. Line 217

(32. Beggar.)

¶ "fful holsum were it, stynten of þi wo, Line 218 And take vnto þe, spirit of gladnesse; What profyt fyndest þou to mournë so? Salamon seiþ, þat sorowe & heuynesse, Bonës of man dryeþ by his duresse, Line 222 And hertë glad makiþ florissching age; Þerfore I redë þou þi wo a-swage. Line 224

(33. Beggar.)

¶ "He seiþ, 'as motthës to a cloþe annoyen, [folio 5a] Line 225 And of his wollë maken it al bare, And also as wormës a tre destruen Þorogh hir percyng, riȝt so sorowe and care By-reuen man his helþe & his welfare, Line 229 And his dayës a-bregge, & schorte his lyf; lo! what profyt is for to be pensyf? Line 231

(34. Beggar.)

¶ "Now, godë sonë, telle on þi greuaunce; Line 232 What is þi cause of þoght in special? Hast þou of worldly goodës hábundaunce, And carist how þat it i-kept be schal? Or art þou nedy, & hast nouȝt but smal, Line 236 And thristist sore a rychë man to be? Or louest herë þat not loueþ þe? Line 238

Line 238

(35. Beggar.)

¶ "I haue herd seyn, in kepyng of richesse Line 239 Is thoght and wo, & besy a-wayte al-way; The pore & nedy ek haþ heuynesse, ffor to his purpos not atteyne he may; Þe louer also seen men day by day, Line 243 Prolle after þat, þat he schal neuer fynde; Þus þoght turmentiþ folk in sondry kynde. Line 245

(36. Beggar.)

¶ "If þou þe fele in any of þese i-greued, Line 246 Or elles what, tell on, in goddës name. Þou seest al day, þe begger is releued, Þat sitte and beggeþ, blynd, crokyd & lame; And whi? for he ne lettiþ, for no schame, Line 250 his harmës & his pouert to by-wreye To folk, as þey gon by hym in þe weye. Line 252

(37. Beggar.)

¶ "ffor, and he kepe hym cloos, & holde his pees, [folio 5b] Line 253 And noght out schewe how seek he inward is, He may al day so sytten helpëlees; And, sonë myn, alþogh he faire a-mys Þat hydith so, god wot þe wyt is his; Line 257 But þis begger his hurtës wol not stele, He wele telle al and more; he can nouȝt hele.

(38. Beggar.)

¶ "Ryght so, if þe liste haue a remedye Line 260 Of þyn annoy þat prikkeþ þe so smerte, The verray cause of þin hyd maladye Þou most discouer, & telle oute al þin herte. If þou it hydë, þou schalt not astarte Line 264 Þat þou ne fallë schalt in som myschaunce; ffor-þi amendë þou þi gouernaunce. Line 266

Line 266

(39. Beggar.)

¶ "Be war of þoght, for it is perillous; Line 267 He þe streight wey to discomfórt men ledeþ; His violence is ful outragëous; Vnwise is he þat besy þoght ne dredeþ. In whom þat he his mortel venym schedeþ, Line 271 But if a vomyt after folwe blyue, At þe port of despeir he may arryue. Line 273

(40. Beggar.)

¶ "Sonë, swych thoghtë lurkynge þe with-ynne, Line 274 Þat huntith after þi confusioun, Hy tyme it is to voyde & late hym twynne, And walke at largë out of þi prisoun. Be war þe fendës sly conclusioun, Line 278 ffor if he may þe vnto déspeir brynge, Þou mornë schalt, & lawgh he wol, & synge. Line 280

(41. Beggar.)

¶ "Som man, for lak of occupacioun, [folio 6a] Line 281 Museþ forþer þanne his wyt may strecche, And, at þe fendës instigacioun, Dampnable errour holdeþ, & can not flecche ffor no counseil ne reed, as dide a wrecche Line 285 Not fern agoo, whiche þat of heresye Conuyct, and brent was vn-to ashen drye. Line 287

(42. Beggar.)

¶ "The precious body of oure lorde ihesu Line 288 In forme of brede, he leued no[t] at al; He was in no þing abassht, ne eschu To seye it was but brede material; He seyde, a prestës power was as smal Line 292 As a Rakérs, or swiche an oþer wiȝte, And to mak it, hadde no gretter myȝt. Line 294

Line 294

(43. Beggar.)

¶ "My lorde þe princë—god him saue & blesse!— Line 295 Was at his deedly castigacioun, And of his soulë hadde grete tendernesse, Thristyngë sorë his sauacioun: Grete was his pitous lamentacioun, Line 299 Whan þat þis renegat not woldë blynne Of þe stynkyng errour þat he was inne. Line 301

(44. Beggar.)

¶ "This good lorde hiȝte hym to be sweche a mene Line 302 To his fader, oure ligë lorde souereyne, If he renouncë wolde his errour clene, And come vn-to oure good byleue ageyne, He schulde of his lif seure ben & certeyne, Line 306 And súfficiant lyflode eek scholde he haue, Vn-to þe day he clad were in his graue. Line 308

(45. Beggar.)

¶ "Also þis nobyl prince & worþy knyght— [folio 6b] Line 309 God quyte hym his charitable labour!— Or any stikkë kyndled were or light, The sacrement, oure blissed saueoure, With reuerencë grete & hye honoure Line 313 He fecchë leet, þis wrecchë to conuerte, And make oure feiþe to synkyn in his herte. Line 315

(46. Beggar.)

¶ "But al for noght, it woldë not bytyde; Line 316 He heeld forþ his oppynyoun dampnáble, And cast oure holy cristen feiþ a-syde, As he þat was to þe fende acceptáble. By any outward tokyn resonáble, Line 320 If he inward hadde any repentaunce, Þat wote he, þat of no þing haþ doutaunce. Line 322

Line 322

(47. Beggar.)

¶ "Lat þe diuinës of hym speke & muse Line 323 Where his soule is by-come, or whider gon; Myn vnkonyng of þat me schal excuse, Of whiche materë knowleche haue I non. But woldë god, tho cristes foos echon, Line 327 Þat as he heeldë were I-seruëd soo, ffor I am seur þat þer ben many moo, Line 329

(48. Beggar.)

¶ "The more ruthe is: allas! what men ben þey Line 330 Þat hem delyten in swiche surquidrie? ffor mannës reson may not preue oure fey, Þat þey wole it dispreuen or denye. To oure lorde god þat sytte in heuenes hye, Line 334 Schal þey desyre for to ben egal? Nay, þat was neuer, certes, ne be schal. Line 336

(49. Beggar.)

¶ "Þát oure lord god seiþ in holy scripture [folio 7a] Line 337 May not be fals; þis knawit euery whiȝt, But he be mad; & þogh a creature In his goddës werk feelë not a-ryght, Schal he rebelle ageyn his lordës myght, Line 341 Which þat þis wydë world haþ made of noght, ffor reson may not knytte it in his thoght? Line 343

(50. Beggar.)

¶ "Was it not eek a moustre as in nature Line 344 Þat god I-borë was of a virgine? Ȝit is it soþ, þogh man be cóniecture Of reson, or what he can ýmagine, Not sauoure it, ne can it détermyne. Line 348 He þat al myghty is, doþ as hym lyste; He wole his konnynge hydde be, & nat wyste. Line 350

Line 350

(51. Beggar.)

¶ "Oure feiþ not were vnto vs meritórie Line 351 If þat we myghten by reson it preue; Lat vs not fro god twynnen & his glorie; As holy chirche vs byt, lat vs be-leue;— But we þere-to obeye, it schal vs greue Line 355 Importably; lat vs do as sche byt, Oure goedë fadres olde han folwyd it. Line 357

(52. Beggar.)

¶ "Presumpcïoun, a! benedicite! Line 358 Why vexest þou folk with þi franesie? þogh no þing ellës were, I seye for me, But se how þat þe worþi prelacie, And vnder hem þe suffissant clergye, Line 362 Endowyd of profound intelligence, Of al þis land werreyen þi sentence; Line 364

(53. Beggar.)

¶ "That seluë samë to me were a bridel, [folio 7b] Line 365 By whiche wolde I gouérned ben & gyed, And ellis al my labour were in ydel. By holy churche I wole be iustified; To þat, al holly is myn herte applied, Line 369 And euer schal; I truste in goddës grace, Swiche surquidrie in me schal haue no place. Line 371

(54. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Sone, if god wolë, þou art non of þo Line 372 Þat wrapped ben in þis dampnacïoun?" ¶ "I? criste forbede it, sire!" seyde I þo; "I þanke it god, non inclinacïoun Haue I to labour in probacïoun Line 376 Of his hy knowleche & his myghty werkys, ffor swiche mater vn-to, my wit to derk is. Line 378

Line 378

(55. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Of oure feiþ wol I not despute at all; Line 379 But, at a word, I in þe sacrament Of þe auter fully bileue, & schal, With goddës helpe, while life is to me lent; And, in despyt of þe fendës talent, Line 383 In al oþer articles of þe feiþ Byleue, as fer as þat holy writ seiþ." Line 385

(56. Beggar.)

¶ "Now good thrifte come vn-to þe, sonë dere! Line 386 Þi gost is now a-wakyd, wel I se, And som-what eke amendid is þi chere; And firste I was ful sore a-gast of þe, Lest þat þou thorgh thoght-ful aduersyte, Line 390 Not haddest standen in þi feyþe a-ryght; Now is myn hertë waxen glad & lyght. Line 392

(57. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Hast þou in me ony gretter sauour [folio 8a] Line 393 Þan þat þou haddest first whan þou me sy, Whan I opposyd þe of þi langour? ¶ Seye on þe soþë." "Ya, somdele," quod I. ¶ "My sone, in fayth, þat is seyde ful feyntly; Line 397 Thi sauour yit ful smal is, as I trowe; But or oght longe, I schal þe soþë knowe. Line 399

(58. Beggar.)

¶ "I wote wel, sone, of me þus wold þou þinke:— Line 400 Þis oldë dotyd Grisel holte him wyse, He weneþ maken in myn heed to synke His lewed clap, of which set I no pryse; He is a nobil prechour at deuyse; Line 404 Gret noyse haþ þorgh hys chynnëd lippës drye Þis day out past, þe deuel in his eye. Line 406

Line 406

(59. Beggar.)

¶ "But þogh I olde & hore be, sonë myin, Line 407 And porë be my clethyng & aray, And not so wyde a gowne haue, as is þin, So smal I-pynchid, ne so fresche and gay, Mi redde, in happë, ȝit the perfet may; Line 411 And likly, þat þou demest for folye, Is gretter wysdom þan þou canste espye. Line 413

(60. Beggar.)

¶ "Vndir an old pore habyt, regneþ oft Line 414 Grete vertu, þogh it moustre porëly; And where as gret array is vp on loft, Vice is but seelden hid; þat wel wote I. But not report, I pray þe, inwardly, Line 418 Þat fresch array I generally depraue; Þis worþi men mowe it wel vse & haue. Line 420

(61. Beggar.)

¶ "But þis me þinkiþ an abusïoun, [folio 8b] Line 421 To se on walke in gownës of scarlet, xij ȝerdës wyd, wit pendant sleues downe On þe grounde, & þe furrour þer-in set Amountyng vnto twenty pound or bet; Line 425 And if he for it payde haue, he no good Haþ lefte him where-wit for to bye an hood. Line 427

(62. Beggar.)

¶ "ffor þogh he iettë forth a-mong þe prees, Line 428 And ouer lokë euerey porë wight, His cofre and eke his purs ben penylees, He haþ no morë þan he goþ in ryght. ffor lond, rent, or catel, he may go light; Line 432 Þe weght of hem schal not so mochë peyse As doþ his gowne: is swiche array to preyse? Line 434

Line 434

(63. Beggar.)

¶ "Nay sothely, sone, it is al a-mys me þinkyþ; Line 435 So pore a wight his lord to counterfete In his array, in my conceyit it stynkith. Certes to blamë ben þe lordës grete, If þat I durstë seyn, þat hir men lete Line 439 Vsurpë swiche a lordly apparaille, Is not worþ, my childe, with-outen fayle. Line 441

(64. Beggar.)

¶ "Som tyme, afer men myghten lordës knowe Line 442 By there array, from oþer folke; but now A man schal stody and musen a long throwe Whiche is whiche: o lordes, it sit to yowe Amendë þis, for it is for youre prowe. Line 446 If twixt yow and youre men no difference Be in array, lesse is youre reuerence. Line 448

(65. Beggar.)

¶ "Also ther is another newë get, [folio 9a] Line 449 A foul wast of cloth and an excessyf; Ther goth no lesse in a mannës tipet Than of brood cloth a yerdë, by my lif; Me thynkyth this a verray inductif Line 453 Vnto stelthe: ware hem of hempen lane! ffor stelthe is medid with a chekelew bane. Line 455

(66. Beggar.)

¶ "Let euere lord, his ownë men deffende Line 456 Swiche gret array, and þan, on my peryl, This land within a whilë schal amende. In goddys namë, putte it in exyl! It is synnë outragïous and vyl; Line 460 Lordës, if ye your éstat and honour Louen, fleemyth this vicius errour! Line 462

Line 462

(67. Beggar.)

¶ "What is a lord withouten his meynee? Line 463 I puttë cas, þat his foos hym assaille Sodenly in þe stret,—What help schal he, Wos sleeuës encombrous so sydë traille, Do to his lord? he may hym nat auaille; Line 467 In swych a cas he nys but a womman; He may nat stand hym in steed of a man. Line 469

(68. Beggar.)

¶ "His armys two han ryght y-now to done, Line 470 And sumwhat more, his sleeuës vp to holde; The taillours, trow I, moot heer-after soone Shape in þe feeld; thay shal nat sprede and folde On hir bord, thogh þei neuer só fayn wolde, Line 474 The cloth þat shal ben in a gownë wroght; Take an hool cloth is best, for lesse is noght. Line 476

(69. Beggar.)

¶ "The skynner vn-to þe feeld moot also, [folio 9b] Line 477 His hous in london is to streyt & scars To doon his craft; sum tyme it was nat so. O lordës, yeue vnto your men hir pars That so doon, and aqwente hem bet with mars, Line 481 God of bataile; he loueth non array That hurtyth manhode at preef or assay. Line 483

(70. Beggar.)

¶ "Who now moost may bere on his bak at ones Line 484 Of cloth and furrour, hath a fressch renoun; He is 'a lusty man' clept for þe nones; But drapers & eek skynners in þe toun, ffor swich folk han a special orisoun Line 488 That troppid is with curses heere & there, And ay schal, til þei paid be for hir gere. Line 490

Line 490

(71. Beggar.)

¶ "In dayës oldë, whan smal apparaille Line 491 Suffisid vn-to hy estat or mene, Was gret houshold wel stuffid of victaille; But now housholdes ben ful sclender & lene, ffor al þe good þat men may repe or glene, Line 495 Wasted is in outragëous array, So that housholdës men nat holdë may. Line 497

(72. Beggar.)

¶ "Pryde hath wel leuer bere an hungry mawe Line 498 To beddë, than lakke of array outrage; He no prys settith be mesurës lawe, Ne takith of hym cloth[ë], mete, ne wage: Mesure is out of londe on pylgrymage; Line 502 But I suppose he schal resorte as blyue, ffor verray needë wol vs ther-to dryue. Line 504

(73. Beggar.)

¶ "Ther may no lord tak vp no newë gyse [folio 10a] Line 505 But þat a knauë shal þe same vp take. If lordës wolden [cessyn] in þis wyse, ffor to do swichë gownës to hem make As men did in old tyme, I vndertake Line 509 The samë get sholde vp be take and vsid, And al þis costelew outrage refusid. Line 511

(74. Beggar.)

¶ "Of lancastre duk Iohn, whos soule in heuene Line 512 I fully deme, And trustë sit ful hye— A noble prince I may allegge & neuene, (Other may no man of hym testifye)— I neuer sy a lord that cowde hym gye Line 516 Bet like his éstat; al knyghtly prowesse Was to hym girt: o god! his soulë blisse! Line 518

Line 518

(75. Beggar.)

¶ "His garnamentës weren noght ful wyde, Line 519 And yit þei hym becam wondérly wel. Now wold[ë] god þe waast of cloth & pryde Y-put were in exyl perpetuel, ffor þe good and profet vniuersel. Line 523 And lordes myght helpe al this, if þei wolde The olde get take, and it furth vse & holde. Line 525

(76. Beggar.)

¶ "Than myghtë siluer walkë morë thikke Line 526 Among þe peple þan þat it doþ now; Ther wold I fayne þat were y-set þe prikke,— Nat for my self; I schal doo wel ynow,— But, sonë, for þat swichë men as thow Line 530 That with þe world wrastlen, myght han plente Of coyn, where as ye han now scarsetee. Line 532

(77. Beggar.)

¶ "Now hath þis lord but litil neede of broomes [folio 10b] Line 533 To swepe a-way þe filthe out of þe street, Syn sydë sleuës of penýlees gromes Wile it vp likkë, be it drye or weet. O engelond! stande vp-ryght on thy feet! Line 537 So foul a wast in so symple degree Bannysshe! or sore it schal repentë the. Line 539

(78. Beggar.)

¶ "If a wight vertuous, but narwe clothid, Line 540 To lordës curtës now of dayës go, His compaignye is vn-to folkës lothid; Men passen by hym bothë to and fro, And scorne hym, for he is arrayed so; Line 544 To hir conceit is no wight vertuous, But he þat of array is outrageous. Line 546

Line 546

(79. Beggar.)

¶ "But he that flater can, or be a baude, Line 547 And by tho tweynë, fressch array him gete, It holden is to him honur & laude. Trouth and clennessë musten men for-gete In lordës courtës, for they hertës frete; Line 551 They hyndren folk: fy vpon tongës trewe! They displesaunce in lordës courtës breewe. Line 553

(80. Beggar.)

¶ "Lo, sonë myn, þat tale is at an eende: Line 554 Now, goodë sone, haue of me no desdeyn, Thogh I be old, and myn array vntheende; ffor many a yong man, wot I wel certeyn, Of corage is so prowde and so hauteyn, Line 558 That to þe poore and old mannës doctrine, fful seelde him deyneth bowen or enclyne. Line 560

(81. Beggar.)

¶ "Senek seiþ, 'age is an infirmitee [folio 11a] Line 561 Þat lechë non can curë, ne it hele, ffor to þe deþ next neghëburgh is he; Ther may no wight þe chartre of lyf ensele, The ende is deþ of male & of femele; Line 565 No thyng is morë certein þan deþ is, Ne more vncertein þan þe tyme I-wis.' Line 567

(82. Beggar.)

¶ "As touchyng agë, god in holy writ Line 568 Ryght þus seiþ: 'fader & moder honure, Þat þou mayste be longlyued:' þus he byt. Þan moot it folwen vpon þis scripture, Age is a guerdoun to a crëature, Line 572 And longlyuëd is non with-outen age; Where-for I seye, in eld is auauntage. Line 574

Line 574

(83. Beggar.)

¶ "And þe reuard of god may not be smal, Line 575 His ȝiftës ben ful noble & profitabil; ffor-þi ne lakkë þou not age at al; Whan youþe is past, is agë sesonable. Age haþ in-sighte how vnsure & vnstable Line 579 Þis worldës cours is, by lengthe of his yeeres, And can deffende hym from his scharpë breres.

(84. Beggar.)

¶ "Lord, wheþer it be maystrie to knowe Line 582 Whan a man ofte haþ sundry weyës ride Which is þe bestë? nay, for soþe I trowe; Right so he þat haþ many a world abyde Þer he in youþë wroghtë mis or dyde, Line 586 His age it seeþ, & byt him it eschue, And seekiþ weyës couenable & due. Line 588

(85. Beggar.)

¶ "Whan þat þou hast assaydë boþë two, [folio 11b] Line 589 Sad age, I seye, after þi skittish youþe, As þou must nedys atteynë ther-to, Or steruë ȝong, þan trowe I þou wolt bowe þe To swichë conceytës as I haue nowþe; Line 593 And þankë god deuoutly in þin herte Þat he haþ suffred þe þi youthe asterte. Line 595

(86. Beggar.)

¶ "Youthë ful smal reward hath to goodnesse, Line 596 And peril dredith he non, wot I wel; Al his deuocioun and holynesse At tauerne is, as for þe mostë del; To Bachus signe & to þe leuësel Line 600 His youþe him haliþ; & whan it him happiþ To chirchë gon, of nycetë he clappiþ. Line 602

Line 602

(87. Beggar.)

¶ "The causë why men oghten þider gon, Line 603 Nat conceyue can his wyldë steerissh heed To folwen it. Also bote is it non To telle it him, for thogh men sowen seed Of vertu in a yong man, it is deed Line 607 As blyue, his rebel goost it mortifieþ; Al þing sauf folye in a yong man dieþ. Line 609

(88. Beggar.)

¶ "Whan I was yong I was ful rechëlees, Line 610 Prowde, nyce, and riotous for þe maystrie, And, among oþer, consciencëlees; By þat sette I naght þe worþ of a flye; And of hem haunted I þe compaignie Line 614 Þat went on pylgrymagë to tauerne, Which be-for vnthrift beriþ þe lanterne. Line 616

(89. Beggar.)

¶ "There offryd I wel morë þan my tyþe, [folio 12a] Line 617 And wit-drowe holy chirche his duëtee; My frendës me counseylëd often siþe, Þat I, with lownesse & humylitee, To my curat go scholde, & make his gree; Line 621 But straw vnto hir reed! wolde I nat bowe ffor aght þey kouden preyen all, or wowe. Line 623

(90. Beggar.)

¶ "Whan folk wel rulyd dressyd hem to bedde, Line 624 In tymë due by redë of nature, To þe tauernë quykly I me spedde, And pleyde at dees while þe nyghte wolde endure. Þere, þe former of euery creature Line 628 Dismembred y with oþës grete, & rente Lyme for lyme, or þat I þennës wente. Line 630

Line 630

(91. Beggar.)

¶ "And ofte it fals was þat I swoer or spak, Line 631 ffor þe desire feruént of couetyse ffonde in periúrie no defaute or lak, But euer entyced me þat in al wyse Myn oþës gretë I scholde excercyse; Line 635 And specially for lucre, in al manere Swere and for-swere with boldë face & chere. Line 637

(92. Beggar.)

¶ "But þis condicïoun, lo, hadde I euere: Line 638 Þogh I prowde were in wordës or in speche, Whan strokës cam a place, I gan disseuere ffro my felawës; soghte I neuere leeche ffor hurt which I there toke; what scholde I seche A saluë, whan I þer-of hadde no nede? I hurtlees was ay, þurgh impressyd drede. Line 644

(93. Beggar.)

¶ "Tho myghte I spende an hundred mark by ȝere, [folio 12b] Al thyng deduct, my sone, I gabbë noght; I was so prowde, I helde no man my pere; In pryde & leccherye was al my þoght; No more I haddë set þerby or roght, Line 649 A wif or mayde or nunë to deffoule, Than scheete, or pleyën at þe bal or boule. Line 651

(94. Beggar.)

¶ "Ryght nycë girlës at my retenue Line 652 Hadde I an heep, wyuës & oþere mo; What so þey werë, I wolde non eschue: And yeerës felë I contynued so; Allas! I no þing was war of þe wo Line 656 Þat folwyd me; I lookyd nat behynde; Conceytës yongë ben ful derke & blynde. Line 658

Line 658

(95. Beggar.)

¶ "An office also hadde I lucratyf, Line 659 An wan y-nowgh, god wot, & mochel more; But neuer þoght I, in al my yongë lyf, What I iniustly gat, for to restore; Wherefore I now repentë wonder sore; Line 663 As yt mysgoten was, mys was despendid, Of whiche oure lord god gretly was offendid. Line 665

(96. Beggar.)

¶ "He sy I nolde absteenë for no good Line 666 Of myn outragëous iniquitee; And whan þat his lust was, with-drow þe flood Of welþe, & at grounde ebbë sette he me; With pouert for my gylt me feffed he, Line 670 Swiche wrechë toke he for my cursyd synne; No morë good haue I þan I stond inne. Line 672

(97. Beggar.)

¶ "Gold, siluer, iewel, cloþ, beddýng, array, [folio 13a] Line 673 Ne haue I non, oþir þan þou mayste se. Parde! þis bare olde russet is nat gay, And in my purs so gretë sommës be, Þat þere nys countour in al cristente Line 677 Which þat hem can at any noumbre sette; Þat schaltow se; my purs I wole vnschete. Line 679

(98. Beggar.)

¶ "Come hider to me, sone, & look whedir Line 680 In þis purs þer be any croyse or crouche, Sauf nedel and þrede, & themel of leþer; Here seest þow naght þat man may handil or touche; Þe feend, men seyn, may hoppen in a pouche Line 684 Whan þat no croys þere-innë may a-pere; And by my purs, þe same I may seye here. Line 686

Line 686

(99. Beggar.)

¶ "O wher is now al þe wantoun moneye Line 687 That I was maister of, and gouernour, Whan I knewe nat what pouert was to sey? Now is pouert þe glas and þe merour. In whiche I se my god, my sauyour. Line 691 Or pouert cam, wiste I nat what god was; But now I knowe, & se hym in þis glas. Line 693

(100. Beggar.)

¶ "And wherë be my gounës of scarlét, Line 694 Sanguyn, murreye, & blewës sadde & lighte, Grenës also, ánd þe fayre violet, Hors and harneys, fresche and lusty in syghte? My wykked lyf haþ put al þis to flighte; Line 698 But certes ȝit me greueþ most of al, My frendschipe is al clenë fro me fal. Line 700

(101. Beggar.)

¶ "O while I stode in wele, I was honoured, [folio 13b] Line 701 And many on, of my compáignie glad, And now I am mys-lokyd on & loured; þere rekkeþ non how wo I be bystad. O lord! þis world vnstabyl is, & vnsad, Line 705 Þis world hunuriþ nat mannës persone ffor him self, sonë, but for good allone. Line 707

(102. Beggar.)

¶ "fful soþ fynde I þe word of salomon, Line 708 þat to moneie obeien allë þinges; ffor þat my coyn & coynworþ is a-gon, Contrarien þei my wille & my byddynges; Þat in my welþë with here flaterynges Line 712 Helden with me what þat I wroght or seyde, Now disobeien þey þat þanne obeyde. Line 714

Line 714

(103. Beggar.)

¶ "Now seyn þey þus—'I wistë wel al-way Line 715 Þat him destroyë wolde his fool largesse; I tolde hym so; & euer he seydë nay:' And ȝit þey lyen, also god me blisse; Þey me comforted ay in myn excesse, Line 719 And seyde I was a manly man with-alle: Hire hony wordys tornen me to galle. Line 721

(104. Beggar.)

¶ "God, whiche of his benyngnë curteseye Line 722 And of his cheerë louyng tendirnesse, He of his synful haþ nat wele he die, But lyuë for tamende his wykkednesse; Hym thanke I, and his infynyt goodnesse; Line 726 His gracë likiþ þat, þorght worldly peyne, My soule eschapë may þe fendës cheyne. Line 728

(105. Beggar.)

¶ "Iob hadde an heuyer fal þan I, pardee! [folio 14a] Line 729 ffor he was clumben hyer in rychesse; And paciently he his aduersite Took, as þe byble berë can wytnesse; And after-ward, god al his heuynesse Line 733 Torned to ioye; and so may he do myne, Whan þat it lykiþ to his myght dyuyne. Line 735

(106. Beggar.)

¶ "Lord, as þe lyst, ryght so þou to me do, Line 736 But euer I hopë seur ben of þat place Whiche þat þi mercy boght vs haþ vnto, If þat vs list for to suë þi grace. A! lord almyghty, in my lyuës space, Line 740 Of my gylt grauntë þou me répentaunce, And þi strook take in greable souffraunce. Line 742

Line 742

(107. Beggar.)

¶ "I coude of youþe han talkyd more & tolde Line 743 þan I haue done, but þe day passiþ swiþe, And eke me leuer is by many folde þy greef to knowë, whiche þat sit so ny þe. Telle on anon, my goodë sone, and I the Line 747 Schal herken, as þou [so longe] hast done me; And, as I can, wele I conseylë þe." Line 749

(108. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Graunt mercy, derë fadir, of youre speche; Line 750 Ye han ryght wel me comforted & esyd; And hertily I praye yowe, and byseche, What I firste to yow spak be nat displesyd; It rewiþ me if I yow haue disesyd, Line 754 And mekely yow byseche I of pardoun, Me súbmittyng vn-to correccïoun. Line 756

(109. Hoccleve.)

¶ "I wot wel, first whan þat I with yow mette, [folio 14b] Line 757 I was ful mad, and spak ful rudëly, Þogh I nat sleptë, yit my spirit mette fful angry dremës; þoght ful bysily Vexid my goost, so þat no þing wyste I Line 761 What þat I to yow spak, or what I þoghte, But here & þerë I my seluen soghte. Line 763

(110. Hoccleve.)

¶ "I preye yow demeth noght þat in dispyit Line 764 I haddë yow, for age or poueretee; I mente it noght; but I stode in swiche plyit Þat it was noþing likly vn-to me, Þogh ye had knowen al my pryuete, Line 768 Þat ye myghten my greef þus han abregged As ye han done; so sore I was aggregged. Line 770

Line 770

(111. Hoccleve.)

¶ "ffadir, as wisly god me saue and spede, Line 771 Ye ben not he whom þat I wende han founde; Ye ben to me ful welcome in þis nede; I wot wel ye in hy vertu habounde. Your wys reed, hope I, helë schal my wounde; Line 775 My day of helþe is present, as me þinkiþ; Youre confort deepe in-to myn hertë synketh. Line 777

(112. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Myn hertë seiþ þat youre beneuolence, Line 778 Of reuthë meeuëd, & verray pytee Of my wo, doþ his peyne & diligence Me to releue of myn infirmytee. O goodë fadir, blissed mote ye be, Line 782 Þat han swich reuthe of my woful estat, Which wel ny was of helpë desperat. Line 784

(113. Hoccleve.)

¶ "But, fadir, thogh ther be dyuersitee [folio 15a] Line 785 fful gret betwixt your excellent prudénce And þe folyë þat regneth in me, Yit god it wot, ful litil differénce Is ther betwixt þe hete and þe feruénce Line 789 Of louë wich to agid folk ye haue, And myn, al-thogh ye deeme I hem depraue. Line 791

(114. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "ffor if þat I þe sothë schal confesse, Line 792 The lak of oldë mennës cherisshynge Is cause and ground [eke] of myn heuynesse, And éncheson of my wofúl murnynge; That schal ye knowe, if it be your lykynge, Line 796 Þe causë wite of myn aduersitee." "Þis telle on, in þe name of crist," seyde he; Line 798

Line 798

(115. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Sauf first, or þow any forthér preceede, Line 799 On tyng of þe, wite wold I, my sone; Wher dwelles þow?" [Hoc.] "fadir, with-outen drede, In þe office of þe priuee seal I wone; And wrytë þer, is my custume and wone Line 803 Vn-to þe seel, and hauë xx^ti yeer And iiij, come estren, and that is neer." Line 805

(116. Beggar.)

¶ "Now sekir, sonë, that is a fair tyme; Line 806 The token is goode of thy continuance. Come hidir, goode, and sitte a-doun heer by me, ffor I mot rest awhile, it is my penance; To me thus longë walke, it doth nusance Line 810 Vnto my crookid feeble lymës olde, That ben so stif, vnnethe I may hem folde." Line 812

(117. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ Whan I was set adon, as he me prayede, [folio 15b] Line 813 "Telle on," seyde he, "how is it with þe, how?" An I began my tale, and þus I seyde:— "My ligë lord, þe kyng wich þat is now, I fyndë to me gracïous ynow; Line 817 God yelde him! he haþ for my long seruise Guer-douned me in couenable wyse. Line 819

(118. Hoccleve.)

¶ "In thé schequér, he of his special grace, Line 820 Hath to me grauntid an annuitee Of xx^ti mark, while I haue lyuës space. Mighte I ay paid ben of þat duëtee, It schuldë stondë wel ynow with me; Line 824 But paiëment is hard to gete adayes; And þat me put in many foule affrayes. Line 826

Line 826

(119. Hoccleve.)

¶ "It goht ful streite and scharp or I it haue; Line 827 If I seur were of it be satisfiëd ffro yeer to yeer, than, so god me saue, My deepë rootid grief were remediëd Souffissantly; but how I schal be gyëd Line 831 Heer-after, whan þat I no lenger serue, This heuyeth me, so þat I wel ny sterue. Line 833

(120. Hoccleve.)

¶ "ffor syn þat I now, in myn agë grene, Line 834 And beyng in court, with gretë peyne vnneth Am paid; in elde, and out of court, I weene My purs for þat may be a ferthyng shethe. Lo, fader myn, þis dullith me to deth; Line 838 Now god helpe al! for but he me socoure, My futur yeerës lik ben to be soure. Line 840

(121. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Seruyse, I wot wel, is non heritage; [folio 16a] Line 841 Whan I am out of court an oþer day, As I mot, whan vpon me hastiþ age, And þat no lengere I labourë may, Vn-to my porë cote, it is no nay, Line 845 I mote me drawe, & my fortune abyde, And suffre storm after þe mery tyde. Line 847

(122. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Þere preue I schal þe mutabilitee Line 848 Of þis wrechéd worldës affeccioun, Which, whan þat youthe is past, begynneþ flee. ffrendchipe, a dieu! farwel, dileccïoun! Age is put out of youre proteccioun; Line 852 His loke vnlusty, & his impotence, Qwenchiþ youre loue & youre beneuolence. Line 854

Line 854

(123. Hoccleve.)

¶ "That after-clap, in my myndë so deepe Line 855 Y-fycched is, & haþ swich roote y-caght, Þat al my ioye & myrthe is leyde to slepe; My schip is wel ney with dispeir y-fraght. Þey þat nat konnë lerned be ne taght Line 859 By swiche ensaumples, smerte as þey han seen, Me þinkeþ, certes, ouer blyndë been. Line 861

(124. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Allas! I se reuthe & pitée exiled Line 862 Out of þis land; allas, compassïoun! Whan schol ye þre to vs be reconsiled? Youre absence is my greuous passïoun; Resorte, I preye yow, to þis regioun; Line 866 O, come ageyn! þe lak of your presénce Manaceþ me to sterue in indigence. Line 868

(125. Hoccleve.)

¶ "O fekil world! allas, þi variaunce! [folio 16b] Line 869 How many a gentilman may men nowe se, Þat whilom in þe werrës olde of fraunce, Honured were, & holde in grete cheerte ffor hire prowesse in armës, & plente Line 873 Of frendës hadde in youþe, & now, for schame, Allas! hir frendeschipe is crokéd & lame. Line 875

(126. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Now age vnourne a-wey puttéþ fauoúr, Line 876 Þat floury youþe in his seson conquerde; Now al forgete is þe manly laboúr Þorgh whiche ful oftë þey hire foos afferde; Now be þo worþi men bet with þe yerde Line 880 Of nede, allas! & non haþ of hem routhe; Pyte, I trowe, is beried, by my trouþe. Line 882

Line 882

(127. Hoccleve.)

¶ "If sche be deed, god haue hire soule, I preye; Line 883 And so schal mo hereafter preye, I trowe. He þat pretendiþ him of most nobley, If he hire lakkë, schal wel wyte & knowe Þat crueltee, hire foo, may but a throwe Line 887 Hym suffre for to lyue in any welþe; Hertë petous, to body & soule is helþe. Line 889

(128. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Ye oldë men of armës þat han knowe Line 890 By syghte & by report hire worþynesse, Lat nat mescheef tho men thus ouer-throwe! Kythe vp-on hem youre manly gentillesse! Ye yongë men þat entre in-to prowesse Line 894 Of armes, eek youre fadres olde hunurith; Helpe hem your self, or sum good hem procurith!

(129. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Knyghthode, awakë! þou slepist to longe; [folio 17a] Line 897 Thy brothir, se, ny dyeth for myschief; A-wake, and rewe vp-on his peynës stronge! If þou heer-after come vn-to swych pref, Thow wolt ful sorë triste after releef; Line 901 Þou art nat seur what that ye schal be-fall: Welth is ful slipir, be ware lest þou fall! Line 903

(130. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Þou þat yclomben art in hy honoures, Line 904 And hast þis worldës welth at thy deuys, And bathist now in youthës lusty floures, Be war, rede I! þou standist on þe ys: It hath ben seen, as weleful and as wys Line 908 As þou, han slide: and þou þat no pitee On othir folk hast, who schal rewe on þe? Line 910

Line 910

(131. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Leeuë me wel, þer is non erthly man Line 911 Þat hath so stable a welth, but þat it May failë, do he what þat he do kan: God, as hym list, visitith folk, & smyt. Wher-fore I deme and hold it grace & wit, Line 915 In hy estat, man, god and himself knowe, And releeue hem þat myscheef hath doun throwe. Line 917

(132. Hoccleve.)

¶ "God willë þat þe nedy be releeued; Line 918 It is on of þe werkës of mercy; And syn tho men þat ben in armës preeued, Ben in-to pouert fallë, trewëly Ye men of armës oghten specialy Line 922 Helpe hem: allas! han ye no pitous blood That may yow stirë for to do hem good? Line 924

(133. Hoccleve.)

¶ "O now in ernest, derë fadir myn [folio 17b] Line 925 This worthi men to me þe mirour shewe Of sliper frenchipe, and vn-to what fyn I drawë schal with-in a yeerës fewe, Vp-on þis woful thoght I hakke & hewe, Line 929 And musë so, that vn-to lite I madde, And leuer dyë þan lyuén I hadde. Line 931

(134. Hoccleve.)

¶ "In faith, fadir, my lyflodë, by-side Line 932 Thainuittee of which aboue I tolde, May nat exceedë yeerly in no tyde Vj mark; þat sittiþ to myn herte so colde, Whan þat I look abouten, and byholde Line 936 How scars it is, if þat that othir faille, That I nat gladdë can, but murne & waille. Line 938

Line 938

(135. Hoccleve.)

¶ "And as ferforth, as I can deeme or gesse, Line 939 Whan I at homë dwell in my poore cote, I fyndë schal as frendly slipirnesse As tho men now doon, whos frendeschipe is rote. Nat wold I rekke as mochel as a mote, Line 943 Thogh I no more hadde of yeerly encrees, So that I myght ay paiëd be doutlees. Line 945

(136. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Two partes of my lif, & mochil more, Line 946 I seur am, past ben; I ne doute it noght; And if þat I schold in my yeerës hore ffor-go my duëtee, that I haue boght With my flessh and my blode, þat heuy thoght Line 950 Which I drede ay, schal fal, as I it thynke; Me hasteth blyue vn-to my pittës brynke. Line 952

(137. Hoccleve.)

¶ "ffaylyng, fadir, myn annuite, [folio 18a] Line 953 ffoot hoot in me crepith disese and wo; ffor þei þat han by-forë knowen me, ffaillyngë good, me failë wole also. Who no good hath, is fer his frendës fro; Line 957 In muk is al þis worldës frendlyhede; My goost is wrappëd in an heuy drede. Line 959

(138. Hoccleve.)

¶ "If þat I hadde of custume, or þis tyme, Line 960 lyued in indigences wrechednesse, The lesse heerafter schuld it sit by me; But in myn agë wrastle with hardenesse, That with hym stroglid neuere in grennesse Line 964 Of youthë, þat mutacïon and chaunge An othir day me seemë shulde al straunge. Line 966

Line 966

(139. Hoccleve.)

¶ "He þat neuere knewe þe swetnesse of wele, Line 967 Thogh he it lakke ay, lesse hym greue it schal, Than hym þat hath ben weleful yeerës fele, And in effect hath felt no greef at al. O pouert! god me sheldë fro thy fal! Line 971 O deth! thy strok yit is more agreáble To me, þan lyue a lyf so miseráble. Line 973

(140. Hoccleve.)

¶ "VI marc, yeerly, and no more þan þat, Line 974 ffadir, to me, me thynkyth is ful lyte, Consideryng, how þat I am nat In housbondryë, lerned worth a myte; Scarsely cowde I charre a-way þe kyte Line 978 That me bireuë woldë my pullaille; And more axith housbondly gouernaylle. Line 980

(141. Hoccleve.)

¶ "With plow can I nat medlen, ne with harwe, [folio 18b] Line 981 Ne wot nat what lond, good is for what corne; And for to lade a cart or fille a barwe,— To which I neuer vsed vas to-forne,— My bak vnbuxum hath swich thyng forsworne, Line 985 At instance of writyng, his Werreyour, That stowpyng hath hym spilt with his labour.

(142. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Many men, fadir, wenen þat writynge Line 988 No trauaile is; þei hold it but a game: Aart hath no foo but swich folk vnkonynge: But who so list disport hym in þat same, Let hym continue, and he schal fynd it grame; Line 992 It is wel gretter labour þan it seemeth; Þe blyndë man of coloures al wrong deemeth. Line 994

Line 994

(143. Hoccleve.)

¶ "A writer mot thre thyngës to hym knytte, Line 995 And in tho may be no disseuerance; Mynde, ee, and hand, non may fro othir flitte, But in hem mot be ioynt continuance. The mynde al hoole with-outen variance Line 999 On þe ee and hand awaytë moot alway, And þei two eek on hym; it is no nay. Line 1001

(144. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Who so schal wrytë, may nat holde a tale Line 1002 With hym and hym, ne syngë this ne that; But al his wittës hoolë, grete and smale, Ther must appere, and halden hem ther-at; And syn, he spekë may, ne syngë nat, Line 1006 But bothë two he nedës moot forbere, Hir labour to hym is þe alengere. Line 1008

(145. Hoccleve.)

¶ "This artificers, se I day be day, [folio 19a] Line 1009 In þe hotteste of al hir bysynesse Talken and syng, and makë game and play, And forth hir labour passith with gladnesse; But we labour in trauaillous stilnesse; Line 1013 We stowpe and stare vp-on þe shepës skyn, And keepë muste our song and wordës in. Line 1015

(146. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Wrytyng also doth grete annoyës thre, Line 1016 Of which ful fewë folkës taken heede Sauf we oure self; and thisë, lo, þei be: Stomak is on, whom stowpyng out of dreede Annoyeth soore; and to our bakkës, neede Line 1020 Mot it be greuous; and þe thrid, our yen, Vp-on þe whytë mochel sorwe dryen. Line 1022

Line 1022

(147. Hoccleve.)

¶ "What man þat thre & twenti yeere and more Line 1023 In wryting hath continued, as haue I, I dar wel seyn it smerteth hym ful sore In euere veyne and place of his body; And yen moost it greeueth trewëly Line 1027 Of any crafte þat man can ymagyne: ffadir, in feth, it spilt hath wel ny myne. Line 1029

(148. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Lo, fadir, tolde haue I yow þe substance Line 1030 Of al my greef, so as þat I can telle; But wel I wot it hath bene gret penance To yow with me so longë for to dwelle; I am right sikir it hath ben an helle, Line 1034 Yow for to herken me þus iangle & clappe, So lewdly in my termës I me wrappe. Line 1036

(149. Hoccleve.)

¶ "But nathëlees, truste I, your pacïence [folio 19b] Line 1037 Receyuë wole in gree my wordës all; And what mys-seyd I haue, of negligence, Ye wole it lete asidë slippe and fall. My fadir dere, vn-to your grace I call; Line 1041 Ye wote my grief; now redeth me þe best, With-outen whom my goost can han no reste."

(150. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Now, sonë myn, hast þou al seid and spoke Line 1044 Þat þé good likyth?" [Hoccl.] "ya, fadir, as now." [Beg.] "Sone, if oght in þin herte elles be loke, Vnlokke it blyue! com of; what seist þou?" [Hoccl.] "ffadir, I can no morë tellë yow Line 1048 Þan I beforë spoken haue and sayd." [Beg.] "A goddes half, sone, I am wel appayd.

(151. Beggar.)

¶ "Conceyued haue I, þat þou gret fere haast Line 1051 Of pouert, for to fallen in þe snare; Thow haast þer-innë caght so deep a taast, Þat of al ioyë þou art voide & bare; Þou ny dispeirëd art of al wele-fare, Line 1055 And þe strook of pouert art þou fer fro; ffor shamë! why makest þou al this wo? Line 1057

(152. Beggar.)

¶ "I put cas,—as god þer-fro þe keepe!— Line 1058 Þou were y-fall in indigent pouert; Suldest þou grucche, and thyn annoy by-weepe? Nay! be þou riche or poore, or seke or quert, God thank alway, of thyn ese and þi smert; Line 1062 Prydë þe noght for no prosperitee, Ne heuye þe for non aduersite. Line 1064

(153. Beggar.)

¶ "Pouert hath in himself ynow greuance, [folio 20a] Line 1065 With-outen þat that man more him purcháce; Who-so it taketh in pacient suffraunce, It is ful plesant beforn cristës face; And whoso gruchith, forfetith þat grace Line 1069 That he schuld han, if þat his pacïence Withstoode þe grief, and made it résistence. Line 1071

(154. Beggar.)

¶ "My sone, as witnessith holy scripture, Line 1072 Discreet and honest pouert manyfold Commendid is; crist himself, I þe insure, To loue and teche and prechen it hath wold. He did al þis; be þou neuer so bold, Line 1076 A-gayn pouert heer-after grucche, I rede; ffor forther-more in holy wryt I rede; Line 1078

Line 1078

(155. Beggar.)

¶ "Beholde þe lyf [eek] of our sauëour, Line 1079 Right fro the tyme of his natiuite Vn-to his deth, as þat seith myn Auctour, And tokne in it schal þou non fynde or se, Bot of pouert, with which content was he. Line 1083 Is man better than god? schal man eschewe Swych lyf, syn god þat samë wolde ay swe? Line 1085

(156. Beggar.)

¶ "ffy! it is to gret an abusioun, Line 1086 To seen a man, þat is but wormës mete, Desire richés, and gret possessioun, Wher as our lord god wold hym entremete Of no richés; he deynëd it nat gete; Line 1090 He lyued poorëly, and pouert chees, Þat myghte han ben ful riche; it is no lees. Line 1092

(157. Beggar.)

¶ "The poorë man slepith ful sikirly [folio 20b] Line 1093 On nyghtës, thogh his dorë be noght shit, Where-as þe riche, a-beddë bisily Casteth and ymagineth in his wit, That necessarie vnto him is it Line 1097 Barrës and lokkës strongë for to haue, His goed from theeuës for to keep & saue. Line 1099

(158. Beggar.)

¶ "And when þe deed sleep fallith attë laste Line 1100 On hym, he dremeth theeuës comen in, And on his cofres knokke, & leye on faste, And some hem pykë with a sotil gyn, And vp is broken, lok, hasp, barre & pyn; Line 1104 And in, þe hande goth, and þe bagge out takiþ; ffor sorwe of which, out of his slepe he wakiþ;

(159. Beggar.)

¶ "And vp he rysith, foot and hand tremblyng, Line 1107 As þat assailed hym þe parlësye; And at a stirt, withouten tarying, Vn-to his cofre he dressith hym in hye; Or he there come, he is in poynte to dye; Line 1111 He it vndoth, and opneth, for to se If þat his falsë goddës ther-in be: Line 1113

(160. Beggar.)

¶ "He dredith fynde it as þat he hath drempt. Line 1114 This worldës power ánd riche hábundance, Of drede of peryl neuere ben exempt; But in pouert is ay sikir constance: Who holdith hym content, hath sufficiance. Line 1118 And sonë, by my rede þou schalt do so, And by desir of good nat sette a slo. Line 1120

(161. Beggar.)

¶ "Wilful pouért in princes ancïen [folio 21a] Line 1121 So ferforth was, þat þey desired more Good loos þan good; bot now-of-dayes, men Yerne and desiren after muk so sore, Þat they good fame han leyd a watir yore, Line 1125 And rekken neuer how longe it þer stipe, Or thogh it drenchë, so þei good may grype. Line 1127

(162. Beggar.)

¶ "Of Siȝilë whilom þer was a kyng Line 1128 With erthen wessel serued at his table; And men, wondryng faste vpon this thyng Seyd vn-to hym, it was nat honurable To his estat, ne nothyng comendable, Line 1132 Axynge hym why hym list be serued so; To which demandë he answerdë tho: Line 1134

Line 1134

(163. Beggar.)

¶ "He seyd: 'thogh I kyng be of siȝilë, Line 1135 A potter was my fadir, is no nay; How long I schal induren, or what while In my prosperitee, nat knowe I may: ffortunës variance I drede alway; Line 1139 Ryght as sche madë me to clymbe on highte Sodenly, so sche may me make alighte. Line 1141

(164. Beggar.)

¶ " 'I thynke alway of my natiuitee, Line 1142 And of my poorë lenage & my blode; Erthen vessél, to swich a man as me fful sittyng is, and acceptable & good.' O, fewë ben ther now left of þe brood Line 1146 That he cam of; he loued bet profyt Commun, than his a-vantage or delyte. Line 1148

(165. Beggar.)

¶ "How seystow by affrýcan Scipion?— [folio 21b] Line 1149 Affrican clept, for þat he affryk wan;— To pouert hadde he swych affeccïoun, Of his ownë free wil & lust, þat whan He dyed, no good had þis worthy man, Line 1153 Wher-with his body in the erthë brynge, But þe común cost made his enterynge. Line 1155

(166. Beggar.)

¶ "Be-forn þe senat was he bore on honde Line 1156 Ones, after he affrik wonnen hadde, That he was riche, as þey cowde vnderstonde, Of gold: to which, with wordes sobre and sadde, Answerde he þus: 'thogh I be feble & badde, Line 1160 The sooth is, vnto youre subieccïoun I gat Affrik; of þat haue I renoun. Line 1162

Line 1162

(167. Beggar.)

¶ " 'My namë was al þat I therë gat; Line 1163 To wynne honour was only þe purpos Whiche þat I took, or þat I cam ther-at; Othir good hadde I non þan richë loos; ffor al þe good there was, opne or cloos, Line 1167 Myn hertë myghtë nat so wel content, As þe renoun only, þat I ther hent.' Line 1169

(168. Beggar.)

¶ "Of coueytise he was no þing coupáble, Line 1170 He settë nat þer by, þou mayst wel se. ffy on þe! gredynes insaciable, Of many a man, þat can nat content be Of muk, al thogh neuer so moch haue he! Line 1174 The kynde is euere of wreched couetyse, To coueyte ay, and haue, and nat suffyse. Line 1176

(169. Beggar.)

¶ "I wold, [that] euery knyght dide now þe same, [folio 22a] And were of good no morë coueytous Than he was: what! to gete a noble fame, To knyghthode is tresór most precïous; But I was neuere so auenterous, Line 1181 Renoun to wynnë by swerdës conquest, ffor I was bred in á pesible nest. Line 1183

(170. Beggar.)

¶ "Vpon my bak come neuere haburgeoun, Line 1184 Ne my knyf drew I neuere in violence; I may nat contrefetë Scipion In armës, ne his worthi excellence Of wilful pouert; but of indigence Line 1188 I am as riche as was euere any man, Suffre it in pacience if þat I can. Line 1190

Line 1190

(171. Beggar.)

¶ "No richer am I þan þou maïst se; Line 1191 Of myne haue I no thyng to takë to; I lyue of almesse. if it stood with þe So streyte, and lyuedest as þat I do, I se þou woldest sorowe swychë two Line 1195 As I; but þou haast for to lyuen on A poore lyf; and swych ne haue I non. Line 1197

(172. Beggar.)

¶ "Salamon yaf conseil, men shulden preye Line 1198 Two thyngës vn-to god, in soothfastenesse: Now herkne, sone, he bad men þus to seye: 'Enhancë þou me, lord, to no richesse, Ne by misérie me so sore oppresse, Line 1202 That needë for to beggë me compelle:' In his prouerbës þus, lo! can he telle. Line 1204

(173. Beggar.)

¶ "But þis pouert menë conseiled he [folio 22b] Line 1205 Men to desyr, þat was necéssarye To foode and clooth, dredyng lest plentee Of good hem myghtë makë to miscarie, And fro the knowlegyng of god to varie; Line 1209 And lest smert needë made hem god reneye: Now be war, sonë, lest þat þou folye. Line 1211

(174. Beggar.)

¶ "Sone, in þis menë pouert holde I þe, Line 1212 Sauf þat þou canst nat taken it ful weel. What thogh þou lesë þin annuytee, Yit mayst þou leuen on þat othir del, Thogh nat ful delecate schal be þi meel. Line 1216 Of vj marc yeerly, mete & drinke & clooth Thow getë mayst, my child, with-outen oth." Line 1218

Line 1218

(175. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Ya, fadir myn, I am nat so perfite Line 1219 To take it so; I haue had hábundance Of welfare ay; and now stond in þe plite Of scarsetee, it were a gret penance ffor me: god scheldë me fro þat strait chance! Line 1223 Vj marc yeerly, to scars is to sustene The charges þat I haue, as þat I wene. Line 1225

(176. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Tow on my distaf haue I for to spynne, Line 1226 Morë, my fadir, þan ye wot of yit, Which ye schal know, or þat I fro yow twynne, Yf your good lust be for to heren it; But, for as moche as it nat to me sit, Line 1230 Your talë for to interrupte or breke, Here-after to yow wil I þer-of speke. Line 1232

(177. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Yit o worde, fader; I haue herd men seyn, [folio 23a] Line 1233 Who-so no good hath, þat he can no good; And þat fynde I, a plat sooth and a pleyn; ffor al-thogh that myn heed, vndir myn hood, Was neuere wys, yit while it with me stood, Line 1237 So þat I had siluer resonable, My litil wytte was sumwhat couenable. Line 1239

(178. Hoccleve.)

¶ "But now, for that I haue but a lyte, Line 1240 And lykly am heer-aftir to han lesse, My dul wit can to me no-thyng profyte; I am so drad of monyës scantnesse, That myn hert is al nakid of lightnesse. Line 1244 Wisseth me how to gete a golden salue; And what I haue, I wele it with yow halue." Line 1246

Line 1246

(179. Beggar.)

¶ "Sone, as for me, nouthir avaunte ne rere; Line 1247 But if disese algatës schal bityde, ffor to be pacïent, rede I thow leere; ffor any thyng, with-holde hir on þi side; My reed wole it nat, sonë, fro the hide; Line 1251 Make of necessite, reed I, vertu; ffor better rede can I non, by Ihesu. Line 1253

(180. Beggar.)

¶ "My sonë, they þat swymmen in richesse Line 1254 Continuelly, and han prosperitee, And neuere han felt but welëful swetnesse, Vnscourgid ay of any aduersitee, Leest god forgete hem, oughten ferdful be; Line 1258 Syn god in holy writ seith in þis wyse, 'Whom so I loue, hym wole I chastyse.' Line 1260

(181. Beggar.)

¶ "Seint Ambroses legendë seith, how he [folio 23b] Line 1261 Ones to Romë-ward took his viage, And in Tuscië, tóward þat contree, With a riche ost he took his herbergage; Of whom, as blyuë fair in his langage, Line 1265 Of his estate enqueren he be-gan; And vnto þat, answerde anon this man: Line 1267

(182. Beggar.)

¶ " 'Right at my lust haue I al worldely welth; Line 1268 Myn estat hath ben ay good, and yit is; Richesse haue I, frendschipe, and bodyes helth; Was neuere thynge me happid yit amys.' And seint Ambrose, astonëd sore of this, Line 1272 Anon right rowned to his compaignye, 'Sires, it is tyme þat we hennës hye; Line 1274

Line 1274

(183. Beggar.)

¶ " 'I am adrad, god is nat in þis place; Line 1275 Go we fast hennës, lest þat hys vengeance ffal on vs!' and with-in a litel space After they were agone, schop this myschance; The groundë claue and made disseuerance, Line 1279 And in sank man, womman, childe, hous, & al That to hym appertened, gret and smal. Line 1281

(184. Beggar.)

¶ "Whan þis come to Ambroses audience, Line 1282 He seidë to his felacheepë þus:— 'Lo, bretheren! seeth heer in éxperience, How merciáblely our lord Ihesus Of his benyngë grace hath sparid vs! Line 1286 He sparith hem that vnwelthy heer ben, And to þe velthy dooth as þat ye seen.' Line 1288

(185. Beggar.)

¶ "This lyf, my sone, is but a chirie faire; [folio 24a] Line 1289 Worldly riches, haue ay in þi memórye, Schal passe, al look it neuer on men so feire; Whil þou art heer in þis world transitórie, Enable þe to wynne eternel glorie Line 1293 Wher no pouert is, but perfite richesse Of ioye and blysse, and vertuous gladnesse. Line 1295

(186. Beggar.)

¶ "O thyng tel I þe, sonë, þat is soth: Line 1296 Thogh a man hadde als moch as men han al, But vertu, þat good gye, al he mys dooth, Al þat swetnessë tournë schal to gal. Whan þat richesse is on a man yfal, Line 1300 If it be wrong dispendid or mys-kept, Another day ful sore it schal be wept. Line 1302

Line 1302

(187. Beggar.)

¶ "Sum riche is large, and his good mys despendith In mayntenance of syn and harlotrie; To swich despenses his lust hym accendith; And on þat othir parte, his nygardie Suffrith hys neghtburgh by hym sterue & dye, Line 1307 Rathir þan with a ferthyng hym releeue: Tho two condicïons ben to repreue. Line 1309

(188. Beggar.)

¶ "Whoso moost hath, he moost of schal answere; On day schal comë, sum men schal par chaunce Desire he neuere haddë ben rychere Than heer han hadde his barë sustinaunce. Whan þe day comth of ire and of vengeaunce, Line 1314 Than schal men see, how in þis world, I gesse, Richesse is pouert, and pouért richesse. Line 1316

(189. Beggar.)

¶ "Whyl er, my sonë, tolde I naght to þe [folio 24b] Line 1317 What hábundance in youth I hadde of good, And how me blentë so prosperitee, Þat what god was, y nothing vnderstood? But ay whil þat I in my welthë stood, Line 1321 After my flesshly lust my lif I ledde, And of his wrechë no þing I me dredde. Line 1323

(190. Beggar.)

¶ "And as I seid, he smot me with þe strook Line 1324 Of pouert, in which I contynue yit, Whos smert my good blood first so sorë sook, Or þat I was acqueyntid wel with it, Þat nye it haddë refte fro me my wit; Line 1328 But sithen, thanke I god, in pacïence I haue it take, and schal, for myn offence. Line 1330

Line 1330

(191. Beggar.)

¶ "If þe list fle, þat may pouert engendre, Line 1331 ffirst synne eschue, and god honoure & drede; Also, for þi lyflode is scars and sclendre, Despendë nat to largëly, I rede. Mesure is good; let hir þe gye and lede; Line 1335 Be war of outrage, and be sobre & wys; Þus þou excludë hym, by myn avys. Line 1337

(192. Beggar.)

¶ "Nathëlees þou maist ágeyn me replie, Line 1338 'To sum folk, thogh þei doon al as I seye, Agayn pouert it is no remedye; Þei mow it nat eschuë by no waye.' I grauntë wel, but þan take heede, I preye, Line 1342 The iugëmentȝ of god ben to vs hid; Take al in gree, so is þi vertu kyd. Line 1344

(193. Beggar.)

¶ "To þe plesaunce of god þou þe conforme, [folio 25a] Line 1345 Aboutë þat be bisy and éntentif; Þat þou mis-done hast, þou blyue it reforme; Swych laborer þe kythe heere in þis lyf, Þat god þi soulë, which þat is his wyf, Line 1349 Reioisë may, for it is to him due, And his schal be, but þou þe deuors sue. Line 1351

(194. Beggar.)

¶ "O þou, fortunë, fals and deceyuáble! Line 1352 fful soþ it is, if þou do a good deede, Þu nat purpósist it schal be duráble; Of good ententë schal it nat procede. Wel oghte vs þi promesses blyndë drede; Line 1356 He sliperly stant who þat þou enhauncest, ffor sodeynlichë þou hym disauauncest. Line 1358

Line 1358

(195. Beggar.)

¶ "Hadde I done, sonë, as I þe consayle, Line 1359 Whan þat fortunës déceyuáble cheere Lawhid on me, þan hadde I nat, sanȝ fayle, Ben in þis wrecched plyt as þu seest heere. Not knew my ȝouthe hir chaungeable maneere; ffor whan I satte on hy vp-on hir wheel, Hir gladsum look me madë truste hire wel. Line 1365

(196. Beggar.)

¶ "I cowdë for no þing han wend or deemed Line 1366 Þat sche a-boutë baar dowble visage; I wende sche haddë ben swiche as sche semed. But nathëles, ȝit is it auantage To him þat woful is, þat hir vsage Line 1370 Is for to flyttë fro placë to place; Hire variance is vn-to sum folke grace. Line 1372

(197. Beggar.)

¶ "Whom so þat nedë greueþ & trauaylliþ, [folio 25b] Line 1373 Hire change is vn-to hym no grief or wo; But þe contrárie of þat no þing auaylliþ, As whan a man is wel, put hym þerfro. What schal men calle hir? frende, or ellys fo? Line 1377 I not; but call hire frend, whan þat sche esiþ, And calle hir fo, whan þat sche man displesiþ.

(198. Beggar.)

¶ "But who so calle hir schal a sikir name? Line 1380 Men mote hir clepe 'my lady chaungeabil,' ffor hardily sche is þat seluë same; A! nay! I gabbe, I am vn-resonabil; Sche is 'my lady stidëfast and stabil,' Line 1384 ffor I endure in pouertës distresse, And sche nat liste remuë my duresse. Line 1386

Line 1386

(199. Beggar.)

¶ "I ymagynë whi þat nat hir list Line 1387 With me now dele; age is colde & drye; And whan þo two ben to a lady wist, And þat I poore am eek for þe maystrie, Swiche a man is vnlusty to hire ye, Line 1391 And wers to gropë: straw for impotence! Sche loueþ yong folk, & large of dyspence. Line 1393

(200. Beggar.)

¶ "Al þis þat I haue of fortunë seyde, Line 1394 Is but a iapë, who seith, or a knak: Now I a whilë bourdyd haue & pleyde, Resorte I wol to that þat I first spake. By-holde, & cast þou þine yë a-bak, Line 1398 What þou god hast a-gilt in tymë past, Correct it, and to do so eft be a-gast. Line 1400

(201. Beggar.)

¶ "Of holy chirche, my sonë, I conceyue [folio 26a] Line 1401 As ȝit ne hast þou non a-vancëment: Ye courteours, ful often ye deceyue Youre soulës, for þe désirous talént Ye han to good; & for þat þou art brent Line 1405 With couetysë now, par auenture Only for muk, þou ȝernest soulës cure. Line 1407

(202. Beggar.)

¶ "fful many men knowe I, þat gane and gape Line 1408 After som fat & richë benefice; Chirche or prouendre vnneþe hem may eschape, But þei as blyue it henten vp and trice: God graunté þei accepte hem for þe office, Line 1412 And noght for þe profet þat by hem hongeþ, ffor þat conceytë nat to prestehode longeþ. Line 1414

Line 1414

(203. Beggar.)

¶ "A-dayës now, my sone, as men may se, Line 1415 O chirche vn-to a man may not suffise; But algate he mote han pluralite, Elles he can not lyuen in no wyse. Ententifly he kepiþ his seruise Line 1419 In courte; his labour þerë schal not moule; But to his curë lokiþ he ful foule. Line 1421

(204. Beggar.)

¶ "Thogh þat his chauncel roof be al to-torn, Line 1422 And on þe hye auter it reyne or snewe, He rekkiþ noght, þe cost may be for-born Cristes hous tó repare or makë newe; And þogh þer be ful many a vicious hewe Line 1426 Vnder his cure, he takiþ of it no kepe, He rekkeþ neuer how rusty ben his schepe. Line 1428

(205. Beggar.)

¶ "The oynëment of holy sermonynge [folio 26b] Line 1429 Hym loþ is vp-on hem for to despende; Som person is so threde-bare of konnynge Þat he can noght, þogh he hym wys pretende, And he þat can, may not his hertë bende Line 1433 Þer-to, but from his cure he hym absentiþ, And what þer-of comeþ, gredyliche he hentith.

(206. Beggar.)

¶ "How he despendiþ it, be as be may, Line 1436 ffor vn-to þat am I no-þing pryuee; But wel I wot, as nycë, fressh, and gay Som of hem ben, as borel folkës be, And þat vnsittynge is to hire degree; Line 1440 Hem hoghtë to be mirours of sadnesse, And wayuë iolitee and wantonnesse. Line 1442

Line 1442

(207. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "But neuerþeles I wote wel þere-agayn, Line 1443 Þat many of hem gye hem as hem oghte, And ellës were it grete pitee certayn: But what man wolt þou be for hym þe boghte?" (Hoccl.) "ffadir, I may not chese; I whilom þoghte Han ben a prest; now past am I þe raas." (Beg.) "Þan art þou, sone, a weddid man per caas?"

(208. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Ya, soþly, fadir myn, ryght so I am. Line 1450 I gasyd longë firste, & waytid faste After some benefice; and whan non cam, By proces I me weddid attë laste; And god it wot, it sorë me agaste Line 1454 To byndë me, where I was at my large; But done it was; I toke on me þat charge." Line 1456

(209. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "A, sone! I haue espied, and now se [folio 27a] Line 1457 Þis is þe tow þat þou speke of ryght now." (l. 1226) "Now, by þe rodë, fadir, soþ seyn ye." "Ya, sonë myn, þou schalt do wel y-now; Whan endyd is my talë, þan schalt þou Line 1461 Be put in swiche a way at schal þe plese, And to þin hertë do comforte and ese. Line 1463

(210. Beggar.)

¶ "So longe as þou, sone, in þe priuë sel Line 1464 Dwelt hast, & woldest fayn han ben auaunced Vn-to som chirche or þis, I demë wel Þat god not woldë hauë þe enhanced In no swich plyt; I holdë þe wel chaunced; Line 1468 God wot and knowith euery hyd entente; He, for þi best, a wyf vn-to þe sente. Line 1470

Line 1470

(211. Beggar.)

¶ "If þat þou haddest per cas ben a prest, Line 1471 Þou woldest han as wantonly þe gyëd As doþ þe nycest of hem þat þou seest; And god for-beedë þou þe haddist tyëd Þer-to, but if þin hertë myght han plyëd Line 1475 ffor to obserue it wel! be glade and merye, Þat þou art as thou art, god þanke and herie!

(212. Beggar.)

¶ "Þe ordres of prestehode and of wedlok Line 1478 Ben boþë vertuous, with-outen fabil; But vnderstondë wel, þe holy ȝok Of prestehode is, as it is resonabil Þat it so be, þe morë commendabil; Line 1482 Þe lesse of hem, of mede haþ hábundance; Men han meryt, after here gouernaunce. Line 1484

(213. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "But how ben þi felawës lokyd to [folio 27b] Line 1485 At hoom? ben þey not wel benéficëd?" "Ȝis, fadir, ȝis! þer is on clept 'nemo'; He helpeþ hem; by hym ben þei chericëd: Nere he, þey weren porëly cheuycëd; Line 1489 He hem auanceth; he ful hir frende is; Sauf only hym, þey han but fewë frendes. Line 1491

(214. Hoccleve.)

¶ "So many a man as þei þis many a yeer Line 1492 Han writen for, ȝit fyndë can þei non So gentel, or of hir estat so cheer, Þat onys liste for hem to ryde or gon, Ne for hem speke a worde; but dombe as ston Line 1496 Þei standen, where hir speche hem myght awayle; ffor swiche folk is vnlusty to trauaile. Line 1498

Line 1498

(215. Hoccleve.)

¶ "But if a wyght hauë any cause to sue Line 1499 To vs, som lordës man schal vndertake To sue it out; & þat þat is vs due ffor oure labour, hym deyneþ vs nat take; He seiþ, his lord to þanke vs wole he make; Line 1503 It touchiþ hym, it is a man of his; Where þe reuers of þat, god wot, sooþ is. Line 1505

(216. Hoccleve.)

¶ "His letter he takiþ, and forþ goþ his way, Line 1506 And byddeþ vs to dowten vs no-thyng His lord schal þanken vs an oþer day; And if we han to suë to þe kyng, His lord may þerë haue al his askyng; Line 1510 We schal be sped, as fer as þat oure bille Wole specifie þe éffecte of our wylle. Line 1512

(217. Hoccleve.)

¶ "What schol we do? we dar non argument [folio 28a] Line 1513 Make a-geyn him, but fayre & wel him trete, Leste he roporte amys, & make vs schent; To haue his wil, we suffren him, & lete; Hard is, be holden suspect with þe grete: Line 1517 His talë schal he leeuëd, but nat ourys, And þat conclusïoun to vs ful soure is. Line 1519

(218. Hoccleve.)

¶ "And whan þe mater is to ende I-broght, Line 1520 Of þe straunger, for whom þe suyte haþ be, Þan is he to þe lord knowén right noght; He is to him as vn-knowén as we; Þe lord not wot of al þis sotilte; Line 1524 Ne we nat dar lete him of it to knowe, Lest oure compleynte oure seluen ouerthrowe.

(219. Hoccleve.)

¶ "And where þis bribour haþ no peny payed Line 1527 In oure office, he seiþ be-hynde our bak, 'He payde, I not what': þus ben we bytrayed, And disclaundrid, and put in wyte and lak, fful giltëles; & eeke by swiche a knak Line 1531 Þe man for whom þe suyte is, is deceyuëd, He weneþ we han of his gold receyuëd. Line 1533

(220. Hoccleve.)

¶ "fful many swychë púrsuours þere ben, Line 1534 Þat for vs take, & ȝeue vs nat a myte: Þis makiþ vs þat we may neuer þeen. Eek where as lordës bydde hir men vs quyte, Whan þat we for hemself laboure and write, Line 1538 And ben a-lowëd for oure payëment, Oure handes þer-of ben ful Innocent. Line 1540

(221. Hoccleve.)

¶ "I seyë nat, al lordes men þus do [folio 28b] Line 1541 Þat sue vnto oure court; but many, I seye, Han þus don oftë. lo! my fadir, lo! Þus bothe oure þanke & lucre gon a-weye: God ȝeue hem sorowe þat so with vs pleye! Line 1545 ffor we it fynden ernest at þe fulle; Þis makyth vs of oure labóur to dulle. Line 1547

(222. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "Now, fadir myn, how þinkiþ yow here-by? Line 1548 Suppose ye not þat þis sittiþ vs sore?" "Yis, certes, sonë, þat ful wel wote I; Hast þou seyde, sonë? wolt þou aght sey more?" "Nay, sir, as now; but ay vp-on your lore Line 1552 I herkne as bisily as I best can." "Sonë, þan lat vs spek as we by-gan: Line 1554

Line 1554

(223. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Seye on þe soþe, I preye þe hertily, Line 1555 What was þi causë why þou toke a wyf? Was it to getë children lawfully, And in clennessë to ledë þy lyf; Or, for luste, or muk? what was þi motyf?" Line 1559 ¶ "ffadir, no thyng wole I it queyntë make: Only for loue, I chees hire to my make." Line 1561

(224. Beggar.)

¶ "Sonë, qwat holdest þóu loue, I þe preye? Line 1562 Þow demest lust and loue conuertible, Per cas; as whan þe list with þi wyf pleye, Þi conceyt holdeþ it good and lisible To doon; art þou oght, sonë myn, sensible Line 1566 In whiche cas þat þou oghtest the for-bere, And in whiche nat? canst þou to þis answere?"

(225. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "ffadir, me þinkeþ al is good y-nowe; [folio 29a] Line 1569 She is my wyf; who may þer-of me lette?" "Nay, sone, a-byde; & I shal tellen how, If þat þou aght by goddës dredë sette, Thre causes ben, whiche I þe wole vnschette Line 1573 And open a-non, whi þou schalt with hire dele; Now herkne, sonë, for þi soulës hele. Line 1575

(226. Beggar.)

¶ Þe firstë causë, procreacïoun Line 1576 Of children is, vn-to goddës honour; To kepe eke thè fro fornicacïoun; Þe next is, & þe thridde, of þat labour Yildë þi dette in whiche þou art dettour Line 1580 Vnto þi wyf; & othire ententes al, Ley hem apart, for aght þat may be-fal. Line 1582

Line 1582

(227. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "ffor þisë causes thow hire vsë muste; Line 1583 And for non othir, on peyne of dedly synne." "ffadir, right now me thoghte, how a-geyn luste Ye helden, & children be goten therinne Where is no luste!" "o sone, or þat me a-twynne, Þou shalt wel vnderstondë how þat I Not holde agaynës luste al vttirly. Line 1589

(228. Beggar.)

¶ "I wote wel, leefful luste is necessarie; Line 1590 With-outen þat, may be non engendrure; But vsë luste for luste only, contrarie To goddës hestës is; for I thensure, Þogh þou take of it litel heede or cure, Line 1594 A man may wyth his wyf do lecherie: The entente is al; be war ay of folye. Line 1596

(229. Beggar.)

¶ "Weddë folk many leden holy lyf; [folio 29b] Line 1597 flor þogh hire flesschly lustës hem assaile, And stire hem often, þe man to þe wif, And she to him; þei maken swiche batail And strif a-gayn hir flesche, þat he shal fail. Line 1601 Of his purpos; but somë folke, as beestes Hire luste ay folwen; in hem non areeste is. Line 1603

(230. Beggar.)

¶ "A-dayës now þer is swyche gouernaunce Line 1604 Among hem þat han paramours & wyues Þat, for luste of hire wommen & plesaunce, Nat suffice hem metës restauratyues, But þei receyuen eeke prouocatyues Line 1608 Tengendre hem luste, feyntyng hire nature, And suche þing causiþ hastyf sepulture. Line 1610

Line 1610

(231. Beggar.)

¶ "Þis knowe I soþ is, & knew it fern a-gon, Line 1611 And thei þat so don, hyli god offende: Swich folk holde I homicidës echon; Þei slen hemself, or god deþ to hem sende. Mi sone, on goddës half I þe defende Line 1615 Swiche medycynës þat þou noght receyue, Syn þei god wraþ, & soule of man deceyue. Line 1617

(232. Beggar.)

¶ "Pas ouer þis: þou seydest þenchesoun Line 1618 Why þat þou took vp-on þè maryage, Was vn-to non oþer entencïoun, But loue only þe sentë þat corage: Now, sonë myn, I am a man of age, Line 1622 And many wedded couples haue I knowe,— Non of myn agë, many mo, I trowe,— Line 1624

(233. Beggar.)

¶ "But I ne sawe, ne I ne spydë neuer, [folio 30a] Line 1625 As longe as þat I hauë lyued ȝit, Þe loue of hem departen or disseuere Þat for goode louë bounden were & knyt; God loueþ loue, & he wole forþere it. Line 1629 At longë rennyng, louë beste schal preue; Þus haþ it ben, & ay schal, I bileue. Line 1631

(234. Beggar.)

¶ "But þey þat marien hem for muk & good Line 1632 Only, & noght for loue of þe persóne, Not haue I wist þey any whylë stood In restë; but of stryf is þere swiche wone, As for þe morë part, twixt hem echone, Line 1636 Þat al hir lyf þei lede in heuynesse: Swich is þe fruyte to weddë for rychesse. Line 1638

Line 1638

(235. Beggar.)

¶ "Among þe ryche also is an vsage, Line 1639 Eche of hem his childe vn-to oþres wedde, Þogh þei be al to yong & tendre of age, No-wher my ripe ynow to go to bedde; And hire conceyt in loue is leyde to wedde, Line 1643 Men wit it wel, it is no questïoun, Tyl yeerës come of hire discrecioun. Line 1645

(236. Beggar.)

¶ "And whan þei han þe knoweleche of resoun, Line 1646 Þan may þei noþer fynden in hire herte To louë oþer; al out of sesoun Þei knyt ben, þat in-tó wedlók so sterte: Þis makeþ many a couple for to smerte. Line 1650 O couetyse! þin is al þe gilt Of þis; & mo deceyuë ȝit þow wilt. Line 1652

(237. Beggar.)

¶ "Also þey þat for luste chesen hir make [folio 30b] Line 1653 Only, as oþer while it is vsage, Wayte wel, þat whan hir luste is ouerschake, And þere-with wole hir louës hete asswage, Þanne is to hem an helle, hire mariage Line 1657 Þanne þei desyren for to be vnknyt, And to þat ende studie in al hir wyt. Line 1659

(238. Beggar.)

¶ "Styntynge þe cause, þe éffect styntiþ eek; Line 1660 No lenger forster, no lenger lemman; Loue on lust groundid, is not worþ a lek. But who for vertu weddeþ a womman, And noþer for muk ne for lust, þat man Line 1664 Þe formë due of matrimoignë sueþ, And soulës hurt & bodyes grief eschueþ. Line 1666

Line 1666

(239. Beggar.)

¶ "I dar not medle of lordes mariágis, Line 1667 How þey hem knytten, hir makës vnseen; But as to me it semeþ swiche vságe is Not worþ a strawe; for, also mot I theen, Reportës not so sikyr iuges ben, Line 1671 As man to se þe womannës persóne; In whiche a choys, lat man hymself allone. Line 1673

(240. Beggar.)

¶ "Weddyng at hoom in þis land, holsom were, Line 1674 So þat a man hym weddë duëly; To se þe flesche firste, it may no þing dere, And hym avisë how hym lykiþ þer-by Or he be knyt; lo! þis conceyt haue I; Line 1678 In þis materë depper cowde I go, But passe I wole, & slippe away þer-fro. Line 1680

(241. Beggar.)

¶ "Now sythen þou hast, to my Iugëment, [folio 31a] Line 1681 Þe maryëd vn-to goddës plesaunce, Be a trewe housbounde, as by myn assent; kepë þi bond; be war of þencombraunce Of þe feend, which, with many a circumstaunce Line 1685 fful sly, him castiþ þë wrappe in & wrye, To stirë þe for to done aduoutre. Line 1687

(242. Beggar.)

¶ "Aduoutrie and periurie, and wylful slaghtre, Line 1688 Þe book seiþ, lik ben, & o peys þei weye. War aduoutre! it is no pleye or laghtre To don it; fle also þise oþer tweye! ffor þus wot I wel, seint Ierom can seye: Line 1692 'In peyne, aduoutre haþ þe secounde place.' Þo þre to eschue, god þe grauntë grace! Line 1694

Line 1694

(243. Beggar.)

¶ "I, in þe bible, rede how þat abram Line 1695 To Egipt wentë, with his wyf saray, And whan þat þei ny vn-to Egipt cam, Þus seyde he vnto his wyf by þe way: 'I wote wel þou art fair; it is no nay; Line 1699 Whan þei of Egipt se þe, þei wol seye, "Þou art his wyf," & for þe, do me deye. Line 1701

(244. Beggar.)

¶ " 'Thei welen kyllë me and þe reserue; Line 1702 ffor-þi, vnto hem seye, I þe be-seche, Þou art my sustre, leste I for þe sterue; Þus may I wel ben esyd by þi speche; And þus þou mayste lengþë my lyf & eche.' Line 1706 And whan þei into Egipt entred were, Þe gipcïans fastë behelden here, Line 1708

(245. Beggar.)

¶ "And of hire beaute maden þei report [folio 31b] Line 1709 To pharäo; & sche as blyue is take In-to his hous; & done is gret comfort Vnto Abram, for þis wommanës sake; And grete desport and cherë men hem make. Line 1713 But for saray, greuously pharäo Punysshyd was, & eke his hous þerto. Line 1715

(246. Beggar.)

¶ "Pharäo clepte abram, & hym abreyde: Line 1716 'What is it þat þou hast don vn-to me? 'Why naddest þou tolde vn-to me,' he seyde, 'How þat þis womman, wyf was vnto the? ffor what enchesoun seydestow,' quod he, Line 1720 'Sche was þy suster? takë þi wyf here,' Quod he, 'and boþë go youre wey in fere!' Line 1722

Line 1722

(247. Beggar.)

¶ "The bible makiþ no manér of mynde Line 1723 Wheþer þat pharäo lay by hire oght; But looke in lyre, & þerë schalt þou fynde, ffor to han done it, was he in ful þoght; But god preserued hire; he myghtë noght; Line 1727 And sethyn, for wil, god hym punissched so, How schal þe dedë vnpunýsshed go? Line 1729

(248. Beggar.)

¶ "Also not knewe he þat a wif sche was. Line 1730 Now þannë, þey þat wyuës wetyngly Takyn and holde, and with hem don trespas, Stonde in harde plyt; sonë, be ware, rede I; If þou þere-inne agylte, eternelly Line 1734 Þou smertë schalt, & in þis lif presént Han scharp aduersitee & gret turment. Line 1736

(249. Beggar.)

¶ "And to abymalech, god bade he shulde [folio 32a] Line 1737 Ȝildë sara also to hir housbonde; ffor he and his, echon, if he ne wolde, Shulden ben dede, he did hem vndirstonde. Take heede, o sonë, þat þou clere ay stonde, Line 1741 ffor god stoppid eke the concepcioun Of euery woman of his mancioun. Line 1743

(250. Beggar.)

¶ "Ne þat she was a wif, wist he no þing; Line 1744 Ne nogh hir knew in no flesshly folye. My godë sonë, rede of dauid kyng, How he bersabe toke, wyf of vrie, Into his house, and did aduout[e]rie; Line 1748 And how he made vrië slayne to be, And how þer-forë punysshed was he. Line 1750

Line 1750

(251. Beggar.)

¶ "How was þe tribe also of beniamyn Line 1751 Punysshid, & put to destruccioun, ffor aduoutr[i]ë which þei lyued inne, In þe abhomynable oppressioun Of þe leuytës wyfe: lo! mencioun Line 1755 Þer-of is made, if þou loke holy writte, In iudicium, ful redily it syt. Line 1757

(252. Beggar.)

¶ "Who-so lith with his neyghëburës wyfe Line 1758 Is cursyd; & who is any aduoutoure, Þe kyngdome faillë shal of endles lyfe; Of þat ne shal he be no póssessoure. Alasse! this likerous dampnáble errour, Line 1762 In this londe hath so large a þrede I-sponne, Þat wers peple is non vndir the sonne. Line 1764

(253. Beggar.)

¶ "Of swichë stories cowde I telle an heepe, [folio 32b] Line 1765 But I supposë þisë schol suffise; And for-þi, sonë, wole I make a leepe ffrom hem, and go wole I to þe empryse Þat I first took; if þu þe wel auyse, Line 1769 Whanne I þe mette, & sy þin heuynesse, Of comfort, sonë, made I þe promesse: Line 1771

(254. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "And of a trewë man, be-heste is dette." Line 1772 "ffader, god ȝilde it ȝow, and so ȝe diden; Ye hyghten me in esë me to sette." "Now, sone, & þogh I longë haue abiden, Thi gryfe is noght out of my myndë slyden; Line 1776 To þi greuancë wole I now resorte, And schewë þe how þou þe schalt comforte. Line 1778

Line 1778

(255. Beggar.)

¶ "In schort, þis is of þi grief énchesoun: Line 1779 Of þin annuitee, þe paiëment, Whiche for þi long seruyse is þi guerdoun, Þou dredest, whan þou art from court absent, Schal be restreynëd, syn þou now present Line 1783 Vnneþës mayst it gete, it is so streit; Þus vnder-stode I, sonë, þi conceit; Line 1785

(256. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "ffor of þi liflode is it þe substaunce; Line 1786 Is it nat þus?" "Ȝis, sooþly, fader, it." "Now, sone, to remedïe þis greuánce, Canstow no weyës fynden in þi wyt?" "No, certes, fader, neuere koude I ȝit.' Line 1790 "May no lordschepë, sonë, þe auayle, ffor al þi long seruice & þi trauaile?" Line 1792

(257. Hoccleve.)

¶ "What, fadir? what? lordës han for to done [folio 33a] Line 1793 So mych for hem-self, þat my mateere Out of hir myndë slippith away soone. The world is naght swich now, my fadir deere, As ye han seene; farwel, frendely maneere! Line 1797 So go[d] me amende, I am al destitut Of my lyflodë; god be my refut! Line 1799

(258. Hoccleve.)

¶ "I am vn-to so streyt a poynt ydryue, Line 1800 Of thre conclusïons moot I cheese one: Or begge, or stele, or sterue; I am yschryue So ny, þat oþer way ne se I noon. Myn hert is also deed as is a stoon; Line 1804 Nay, ther I faile, a stoon no thyng ne felith; But thoght me brenneth, and freesyngly keelith

(259. Hoccleve.)

¶ "To beggë, schame is myn impediment; Line 1807 I wot wel, rather schulde I die and sterue; And steltlës guerdon is swich paiëment, Þat neuer thynke I his wages disserue. Wolde honest deth come, and me ouerterue, Line 1811 And of my grauë me put in seisyne, To al my greef þat were a medecyne." Line 1813

(260. Beggar.)

¶ "What, sone! how now? I se, wel smal effecte, Or ellës non, my wordës in thè take; Outhir ful symple is þin intellect, Or hokirly thow hast hem ouershake, Or þi goost slept hath; what, my sone! a-wake! Whyl er þou seydist þou were of me glad, And now it semeth þou art of me sad. Line 1820

(261. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "I demë so, syn þat my longe sermoun [folio 33b] Line 1821 Profitith naght, it sorë me repentith." "ffadir, beth nat of þat opynyoun; ffor as ye wele I do, myn hert assentith; But ay among, fadir, thoght me tormentith Line 1825 So sharply, ánd so trowblith and dispeireth, That it my wit foule hyndryth and appeireth."

(262. Beggar.)

¶ "O my good sonë, wolt þou yit algate Line 1828 Despeirëd be? nay, sonë, lat be þat! Þou schalt as blyue entre in-to þe yate Of þi comfort. now telle on pleyn and plat: My lord þe princë, knowyth he þe nat? Line 1832 If þat þou stonde in his beneuolence, He may be salue vn-to þin indigence. Line 1834

Line 1834

(263. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "No man bet, next his fadir, our lord lige." Line 1835 "Yis, fadir, he is my good gracious lord." "Wel, sonë, þan wole I me oblige,— And god of heuen vouch I to record,— Þat if þou wolt be ful of myn accord, Line 1839 Thow schalt no cause haue morë þus to muse, But heuynessë voide, and it refuse. Line 1841

(264. Beggar.)

¶ "Syn he þi good lord is, I am ful seur Line 1842 His gracë to þe schal nat be denyed; Þou wost wele, he benyng is and demeur To sue vnto; naght is his goost maistried With daunger, but his hert is ful applied Line 1846 To graunte, and nat þe needy werne his grace; To hym pursue, and þi releef purchace. Line 1848

(265. Beggar.)

¶ "Compleyne vnto his excellent noblesse, [folio 34a] Line 1849 As I haue herd þe vn-to me compleyne; And but he qwenche þi gretë heuynesse, My tongë take, and slitte in peeces tweyne. What, sonë myn! for goddës derë peyne, Line 1853 Endite in frensch or latyn þi greef clere, And, for to write it wel, do thi poweer. Line 1855

(266. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Of allë thre þou oghtist be wele leerid, Line 1856 Syn þou so long in hem labóurëd haast, Þou of þe pryue seel art old I-yeerid." "Yit, fadir, of hem ful smal is my taast." "Now, sonë, þan, foulë hast þou in waast Line 1860 Despent þi tyme; and nathelees, I trowe Þou canst do bet þan þou wilt do me knowe. Line 1862

Line 1862

(267. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "What schal I callë þe? what is þi name?" Line 1863 "Hoccleuë, fadir myn, men clepen me." "Hoccleuë, sone?" "I-wis, fadir, þat same." "Sone, I haue herd, or this, men speke of þe; Þou were aqueynted with Caucher, pardee— Line 1867 God haue his soulë best of any wyght!— Sone, I wole holdë þe þat I haue hyght. Line 1869

(268. Beggar.)

¶ "Al-thogh þou seyë þat þou in latyn, Line 1870 Ne in frenssh nowther, canst but smal endite, In englyssh tongë canst þou wel afyn, ffor ther-of can I eekë but a lite; Ye straw! let be! þi pennë take, and write Line 1874 As þou canst, and þi sorowe tourne schal Into gladnesse; I doute it naght at al. Line 1876

(269. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Syn þou maist nat be paied in thescheqer, [folio 34b] Line 1877 Vnto my lord þe princë make instance Þat þi patent in-to þe hanaper May chaunged be." "fadir, by your suffrance, It may not so, bi-cause of þe ordenance; Line 1881 'Longe aftir þis schal no grant chargeable Out passe;' fadir myn, this is no fable." Line 1883

(270. Beggar.)

¶ "An egal change, my sonë, is in soothe Line 1884 No charge, I wot it wel ynow in dede. What, sonë myn! good hert take vnto þe! Men seyn, who-so of euery grace hath drede, Let hym beware to walk in any mede. Line 1888 Assay! assay! þou simple-hertid goost! What grace is shapen þe, þou naght ne woost."

(271. Hoccleve.)

¶ "ffadir, as siker as I standë here, Line 1891 Whethir þat I be simple, or argh or bolde, Swych an eschangë get I non to yeere; Do as I can, with þat I haue in holde; ffor, as for þat, my comfort is but cold; Line 1895 But wel I fyndë your good wyl alway Redy to me, in what ye can and may." Line 1897

(272. Beggar.)

¶ "That is sooth, sonë; now, syn þou me toldist Line 1898 My lord þe princë is good lord þe to, No maistri is it for þe, if þou woldist To be releeuëd; wost þou what to do? Writtë to hym a goodly tale or two, Line 1902 On which he may desporten hym by nyghte, And his fre gracë schal vp-on þe lighte. Line 1904

(273. Beggar.)

¶ "Sharpë thi penne, and write on lustily; [folio 35a] Line 1905 Lat se, my sonë, make it fresh and gay, Outë thyn art if þou canst craftily; His hyë prudence hath insighte verray To iuge if it be wel y-made or nay; Line 1909 Wher-forë, sone, it is vn-to the neede, Vn-to þi werk, takë þe gretter heede. Line 1911

(274. Beggar.)

¶ "But of a thyng be wel waar in al wise, Line 1912 On flaterië þat þou þe nat founde; ffor þer-of, sonë, Salamon þe wise,— As þat I haue in his prouerbës found,— Seith thus: 'thei þat in feynëd speche habounde, And glosyngly vnto hir freendës talke, Line 1917 Spreden a net bi-forne hem wher they walke.'

(275. Beggar.)

¶ "If a deceyuour yeue a man to sowke Line 1919 Wordës plesant, in hony al by-wrappid, Good is a man eschewë swich a powke; Thurgh fauel haþ ful many a man mys-happid; ffor when þat he hath ianglid al and clappid Line 1923 With his freend, tretyng of pees openly, He in a-wayt lith of hym couertly. Line 1925

(276. Beggar.)

¶ "Þe mostë lak þat han þe lordës grete, Line 1926 Is of hem that hir soothës shuld hem telle; Al in þe glosë folk labour and swete; Thei stryuen who best ryngë shal þe belle Of fals plesance, in þat hir hertës swelle Line 1930 If þat oon can bet than othér deceyue; And swich deceyt, lordës blyndly receyue. Line 1932

(277. Beggar.)

¶ "The worldly richë men, han no knowleche [folio 35b] Line 1933 What þat thei bene of hir condicioun; Thei ben so blent with fauellës gay speche, Wich réportith to hem, þat hir renoun Is euerywherë halwid in the toun, Line 1937 That in hem-self they demen gret vertu, Where as þer is but smal or naght a gru, Line 1939

(278. Beggar.)

¶ "ffor vnneth á good word men speke of hem: Line 1940 This falsë tresoun comon is and rif; Bet were it the ben at ierusalem, Sonë, þan þou were in it defectif. Syn my lord þe prynce is, god help his lyf, Line 1944 To thè good lord, good seruant þou þe quyte To him, and trewe, and it shal the profyte. Line 1946

Line 1946

(279. Beggar and Hoccleve.)

¶ "Write him no thyng þat sowneth in-to vice; Line 1947 Kythë thi loue in matere of sadnesse; looke if þou fyndë canst any tretice Groundid on his estatës holsumnesse; Swych thing translate, and vnto his hynesse, Line 1951 As humblely as þat þou canst, present; Do thus my sone." "fadir, I assent. Line 1953

(280. Hoccleve.)

¶ "With hert as tremblyng as þe leef of aspe, Line 1954 ffadir, syn ye me redë to do so, Of my symple conceyt wole I the claspe Vndo, and lat it at his largë go. But weylaway! so is myn hertë wo, Line 1958 That þe honour of englyssh tonge is deed, Of which I wont was han consail and reed. Line 1960

(281. Hoccleve.)

¶ "O, maister deere, and fadir reuerent! [folio 36a] Line 1961 Mi maister Chaucer, flour of eloquence, Mirour of fructuous entendëment, O, vniuersel fadir in science! Allas! þat þou thyn excellent prudence, Line 1965 In þi bed mortel mightist naght by-qwethe; What eiled deth? allas! whi wolde he sle the?

(282. Hoccleve.)

¶ "O deth! þou didest naght harme singuleer, Line 1968 In slaghtere of him; but al þis land it smertith; But nathëlees, yit hast þou no power His namë sle; his hy vertu astertith Vnslayn fro þe, which ay vs lyfly hertyth, Line 1972 With bookës of his ornat éndytyng, That is to al þis land enlumynyng. Line 1974

Line 1974

(283. Hoccleve.)

¶ "Hast þou nat eeke my maister Gower slayn, Line 1975 Whos vertu I am insufficïent ffor to descreyue? I wote wel in certayn, ffor to sleen al þis world þou haast yment; But syn our lorde Crist was obedient Line 1979 To þe, in feith I can no ferther seye; His creäturës mosten þe obeye. Line 1981

(284. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "ffadir, ye may lawhe at my lewdë speche. Line 1982 If þat þow list; I am no thyng fourmeel; My yongë konyng may no hyer reche, Mi wit is also slipir as an eel; But how I speke, algate I menë weel." Line 1986 "Sone, þou seist wel I-nogh, as me seometh, Non oothir feele I, so my cónceyt demeth. Line 1988

(285. Beggar.)

¶ "Now, farwel, sone! go homë to þi mete, [folio 36b] Line 1989 It is hy tyme; and go wil I to myn; And what I haue y-seid þe, naght forgete; And swych as þat I am, sone, I am thyn. Thow seest wel, age hath put me to declyne, Line 1993 And pouert hath me maad of good al bare; ¶ I may naght but preyë for þi welfare." Line 1995

(286. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

"What, fadir? wolden ye thus sodeynly Line 1996 Depart fro me? Petir! crist, for-beede! Ye shal go dynë with me, trewëly." "Sone, at a word, I moot go fro þe neede." ¶ "Nay, fadir, nay!" "Yis, sone, as god me speede!" "Now, fadir, syn it may non othir tyde, Almyghty god yow saue, and he your gyde! Line 2002

Line 2002

(287. Hoccleve and Beggar.)

¶ "And grautë gracë me þat day to se, Line 2003 That I sumwhat may quytë your goodnesse. But, goodë fadir, whan and wher schul ye And I efte metë?" "Sone, in soothfastnesse, I euery day heere at þe Carmes messe, Line 2007 It faileth naght o-boute þe hour of seuene." "Wel, fadir, god bytake I yow, of heuene!" Line 2009

(288. Hoccleve.)

¶ Recordyng in my myndë þe lessoun Line 2010 That he me yaf, I hoom to metë wente; And on þe morowe sette I me adoun, And penne and ynke and parchemyn I hente, And to performe his wil and his entente Line 2014 I took corage, and whiles it was hoot, Vn-to my lord the princë thus I wroot:— Line 2016

Notes

• in my wofull hert deepe R.
• hore R, om. H.
• this R, þus H.
• wrest by ought that R, wrestid by oght H.
• vnto R.
• the R, om. H.
• Then R.
• Lettred R, Letterd H.
• folye R, foly H.
• of om. R H.
• enden R, ende H.
• nought R, not H.
• noiaunce R.
• moste be a gretter R, most be a grete H.
• In the 17th cent. hand: "Peter Goodman was perhaps som olde man w^t. whom hee consulted concerning his pension &c." Peter = by St. Peter.
• fare R.
• without a 'fere' or companion, felaweles H.
• fonned R.
• soole R, soul H.
• kanst not R.
• ¶ Ve soli! quia, si cadat, non habet subleuantem.
• That R.
• ¶ Prouerbia. Animus gau|dens etatem floridam fa|cit; spiritus autem tristis desiccat ossa.
• ¶ Item sicut tinea vesti|mento, & ver|mis ligno, &c.
• trustest sone R.
• Or elles lovest thou hir that loveth not the R.
• helpeles R, helplees H.
• fare R.
• Thow R, Þe H.
• This stanza has been crossed out with the pen.
• not R, no H.
• The three following stanzas are all crossed out with the pen.
• wolde R, wold H.
• helde R, held H.
• werkes R.
• by R.
• [R] Fides non habet meri|tum ubi hu|mana ratio præbet ex|perimentum.
• twynne R.
• For our faders all R.
• gouerned R, gouernend H.
• Ey R.
• full R.
• o R.
• beleue R, I bileue H.
• I beleeue as holy writte R.
• hert H.
• This and the 15 following stanzas occur as a separate poem in Laud 735, lf. 67, &c. (Bodl. Lib.), and I so printed em in my Queene Elizabethes Achademy (E. E. T. Soc.), p. 105.
• thynne R.
• happe R, hap H.
• profite R.
• folie R, foly H.
• one R.
• with R.
• MS. xx^ti
• gode R.
• It is R. Cp. our modern slang "it is not good enough."
• muse a longe throwe R.
• orisoune R, orsoun H.
• setteth R, setthit H.
• wole R, wel H.
• a R.
• jette R.
• costeleue R, costlew H.
• This was John of Gaunt, father to Henry the fourth, and Grandfather to Henry the fyuth. hee dyed anno 1399. (In the 1700 hand.)
• profite R.
• do R.
• jette vp take, and it forth holde R.
• myght H R.
• thise lordes R.
• hos versus Io. Stow citat in Chronicae sua, fol. 559 sub nomine Tho. Hoc|clive. (In the 1700 hand.)
• with narwe clothes R.
• courtes now a R.
• laude R, laue H.
• this R.
• ¶ Seneca ad Lucillum.
• ¶ Nil cercius morte etc.
• ¶ Exodus. honora pa|trem & ma|trem, vt sis longeuus su|per terram.
• Non-Chaucerian ryme -oure with -ure, as in the "Mother of God," &c. See Forewords to Hoccleve's Minor Poems, Part I, p. xxxix.
• youeþe R.
• your H.
• small R, smal H.
• most H R.
• conceyue R, cause H.
• holy chirches R.
• Fonde I R.
• in R.
• Fro R, For H.
• there R, om. H.
• a C, H.
• quytta R.
• pleyn H, pleye R.
• yonge R, yong H.
• yonge R, yong H.
• Such R.
• this olde R.
• or R, of H.
• harde R.
• world R, wold H.
• honoureth R, hunriþ H.
• God R.
• all R, al H.
• Salamon. Omnia pecunie obediunt: (R. in margin, not in H).
• als H, as R.
• chere R, cheer H.
• wille R, 'wele' is H's often spelling of 'will': see l. 749.
• Scriptum est: Nolo mortem peccatoris, &c. (R. in margin, not in H).
• thurgh R.
• thow lust R.
• charitable R.
• folde R, flode H.
• sone R, om. H.
• Shall R, And schal H.
• vnto your R.
• seeth R.
• goode R, good H.
• cause of the ground R.
• procede R.
• O thyng R.
• dwellest R.
• Nota Hee was an officer of y^e Privie Seale; y^e Clerke, i trow. (In the 1700 hand.)
• foure R (read 'fourë').
• R. leaves out 'goode.'
• now R.
• And R.
• Henricus iiij^us [R.]
• Guerdouned R, Euer douned H.
• His annuitee of xx^ti marks. (In the 1700 hand.)
• shulde R, schuld H.
• goth R.
• depe R, deep H.
• grete, R, gret H.
• laboure R, labour H.
• [see l. 940]
• sterue R, streue H (compare H.'s 'flode' for 'folde,' l. 745, p. 28; 'triste' for 'thirste,' l. 901, p. 33).
• lak H R.
• But ever after in sorwe and vnwelthe R.
• honoure R, hunrith H (as in l. 706, p. 26).
• self with some gode of youre R.
• myschief R.
• thurst R (Compare H.'s 'streve' for 'sterve,' l. 868, p. 32).
• hye R.
• wilfull R.
• Ye R, þe H.
• Thise . . . a R.
• drawe R, draw H.
• sitte R, sit H.
• Nota hoc. (In the 1700 hand.)
• glad kan be R, glad can H.
• I R, om. H.
• fynde R, fynd H.
• duetee R, deutee H.
• sette R.
• stroglede R, stroglid H.
• I suppose this line to be deliberately made of 9 syllables,—'how' serving, with a pause, for the usual 2,—to correspond with the 9-syllable line 974 which it rymes with, and in which 'Six,' with a pause, represents a measure or 'foot.'
• knowe I to R.
• husbonderye R.
• was R.
• ¶ Ars non habet inimi|cum nisi ignorantem.
• ¶ Cecus non iúdicat &c.
• R. continues: de coloribus; et nota hic de scriptoribus.
• On eye R.
• syng H R.
• syng H R.
• bothe R, both H.
• elengere R.
• forth R, for H.
• one R.
• be R, om. H.
• for to H.
• xx^tiiij H.
• smerteth R, smerth H.
• yen R, than H (the same mistake occurs in the Minor Poems, I).
• trewly H, truly R.
• feith it sate R.
• rede me for R.
• forth R.
• inne R, in H.
• lyfe R.
• ¶ August|inus. Volue vitam salua|toris a tem|pore natiuita|tis sue usque ad crucis patibulum, Et non in|uenies in ea nisi stigmata paupertatis. Numquid ergo, homo melior est deo &c.
• ¶ Bernardus in sermone de vigile Natiui|tatis domini None magna abusio est, et nimis magna, vt vbi diues esse velit vilis vermiculus propter quem deus mages|tatis, & domi|nus sabaoth, dignatus est voluntarie pauper fieri.
• richesse R, riche H.
• ¶ Seneca in prouerbiis: Securus enim a nocturnis furibus dor|mit pauper, etiam si clau|stra non mu|niat; diuiti vero opes sue latronis sem|per ymagin|antur occur|sum, & iugi sollicitudine noccium sompnum adimunt.
• stronge R, strong H.
• goods R.
• of hem vnpyke R.
• As that hym shoke the palsye R.
• fals H R.
• ¶ Idem Sene|ca: Saeculi autem potes|tas sine ti|more periculi nunquam est, sed pauper|tas semper secura est.
• Simili R.
• ay R, an H.
• than R, that H.
• Renne R.
• That her gode fame is leid a water thore R.
• slepe R.
• kepe R.
• Cesile somtyme R.
• fast wondrede R.
• Nota
• in the erthe to R, vp on erth H.
• there R, ther H.
• riche R, rich H.
• hert myght H R.
• sette R, set H.
• No richer R, Now riche H.
• I R, om. H.
• livedest R, lyuest H.
• ¶ Prouerbiis .30. Men|dicitatem & diuicias ne dederis mihi, sed tamen victui meo necessaria.
• tribue necessaria R.
• men R.
• to R, om. H.
• fader R, om. H.
• while R, wil H.
• but a R, a large H.
• Quem diligo, castigo R, in margin.
• Ambrose R, Ambroses H.
• grounde R, ground H.
• Ambroses R, Ambrose H.
• seide R, seid H.
• benigne R, benyng H.
• welthy R.
• falle R, fal H.
• neighbore R.
• releueeue H, releeue R.
• see R, seeme H.
• blent H R.
• welthe R, welth H.
• refte R, reste H.
• a labour R.
• thought R.
• fro R, for H.
• releeue R.
• as who R.
• þat, om. H R.
• prebende R.
• hongeth R, longeþ H.
• o R.
• hye R, om. H.
• shepe R, chepe H.
• hem R, hym H.
• comeþ = comþ.
• ought R, hoght H.
• spakest R.
• as (at = þat).
• mannes R.
• as thou art R, om. H.
• ben R, om. H.
• Ȝit, om. H R.
• I R.
• dere R.
• a H R.
• effect R, fecte H.
• bileeued and R.
• ne wote not R.
• Ne we ne dar not lete hym of it R.
• peny R, om. H.
• I sey not alle R.
• ye that this sitteth vs not R, sit H.
• I R, om. H.
• Or first for mukke R.
• what R.
• first H R.
• alle . . befalle R.
• Therynne R, thinne H.
• twynne R.
• foly H, folye R.
• Wedded R.
• som H R.
• feyntyng R, feytyng H.
• it R, om. H.
• do for R.
• wraþþen R.
• longe R, long H.
• for R, for þe H.
• that R, om. H.
• hem R, hym H.
• þe cause theffect R, cause þe feffect H.
• ¶ Cessante causa.
• seemeth R, seme H.
• lykiþ = lykþ.
• matere R, mater H.
• ¶ In canoni|bus. Adul|terare sponte periurare, & hominem sponte occi|dere, equipa|rantur. Iero|nimus dicit, Adulterium secundum locum habet in penis.
• ¶ Genesis xij^o. Cum que prope esset ut ingrediretur Egiptum, dixit Saray vxori sue, "Noui quod pulcra sis mulier, & quod cum te viderunt Egipcii, dic|turi sunt, 'vxor illius es,' & inter|ficient me, & te reserua|bunt; dic ergo, obsecro, quod soror mea sis, vt bene sit mihi propter te, & viuat anima mea ob gra|ciam tui," &c.
• Egipciens R.
• ¶ Item, eo|dem capitulo: fflagellauit autem domi|nus pharao|nem flagellis maximis, & domum eius, propter Saray vxorem Abra|ham; vocauit quoque pha|rao Abraham, eciam dixit ea: 'Quid|nam est hoc quod fecisti michi?' &c.
• koth (always).
• Nicolaus de Lyra, the celebrated medieval commentator on the Scriptures.—T. Wright.
• myght H R.
• for that will . . . punysshed R, punissche H.
• Non solum eternaliter, verum eciam temporaliter in ista vita, adulter mani|festus est pu|nitus, iuxta illud versus: 'Ex istis quidem,' &c.
• Compare Robert of Brunne's (Handlyng Synne, 1.7420-7, A.D. 1303) reproach to the nobles for ravishing maidens and wives, and then boasting of it. See also H. S., lines 2928-83.
• eternelly R, enternelly H.
• ¶ Genesis xx^o. Redde vxorem viro suo; si au|tem nolueris, scito quod morte morie|ris tu & omnia que tua sunt.
• ¶ Item in eodem. Con|cluserat au|tem dominus omnem vu|luam domus Abymalech, propter Sa|ram vxorem Abrahe.
• nought R, nogh H.
• ¶ Regum ij^o capitulis x^o & xj^mo
• fore R, for H.
• ¶ Iudicum xx^o Egressi sunt &c.
• Iudicum full redily R, redy H.
• neighbores R, neyghburs H.
• ¶ Deutro|nomi xxvij^o. Maledictus qui dormierit cum vxore proximi sui. Ad corinthos vj^to. Neque fornicarii, neque idolis seruientes, neque adul|teri, regnum dei posside|bunt.
• the R, om. H.
• an R, and H.
• sone R, persone H.
• Nota [in 1700 hand].
• deserue R.
• Parascenes ad opus De regimine principis. (In the 1700 hand.)
• heuynesse R, heuynes H.
• grete R, gret H.
• tunge R, tong H.
• alle R, al H.
• Vide supra, folio 15 [in 1700 hand].
• hem R, hym H.
• thou foule hast R.
• Occleve R.
• Hoccleve [in 1700 hand].
• Occleve R.
• Chaucer [in 1700 hand].
• Chaucers R.
• the hight R.
• latyne, afyne R.
• latyne, afyne R.
• Truly therof kan I R.
• Ye R.
• or R.
• maistrie R.
• Uttre . . as R, Out . . if H.
• hye R, hy H.
• Wherfore R, Wher for H.
• to take R.
• ¶ Prouerbi|arum xxix^o. Qui blandis fictis que ser|monibus lo|quitur amico suo, expandit rethe gressi|bus suis.
• ¶ Prouerbi|arum I. ffili mi, si te lactauerint peccatores, ne adquiescas eis.
• to eschewe R, eschew H.
• ¶ Ieremie ix. In ore suo pa|cem loquitur cum amico suo, & occulte ponit ei insi|dias.
• ¶ Seneca li|bro vij^o de beneficiis. Summa loca tenentibus maxime deest qui veritatem dicat. Adula|cionis certa|men omnibus officium est, vna omnium contencio quis blandis|sime fallat.
• rynge R, ryng H.
• ¶ Item Se|neca. Igno|rant seculi potentes vires suas, dum se credunt tam magnos quanti pre|dicantur.
• fals H R.
• thou were R.
• hert R H.
• Chaucers R.
• G. Chaucer [in 1700 hand.]
• J Gower [in 1700 hand].
• discrive R.
• yment R, ment H.
• nyce H.
• formell R.
• yonge R, yong H.
• is R, om. H.
• seemeth R.
• prey H, pray R.
• trewly H, truly R.
• goode R, good H.
• The house and church of the Carmelites, or White Friars, stood on the South side of Fleet Street, between the Temple and Salisbury Court.—T. Wright. Not far, therefore, from Hoccleve's "cote" in Chester's Inn, Somerset House.
• The original leaf 37—a Picture and 5 stanzas—has been torn from the Harl. MS. by some "furious Foole." The 5 stanzas are inserted here from MS. Reg. 17 D vi, leaf 40.