[THE PREAMBLE.]
With þis chanon dwelled haue I seuen ȝeer
And of his science am I neuer þe neer
Line 721
Al þat I hadde I haue y-lost þerby
And god wot so haue many mo þan I
þer I was wont to be right freissch and gay
Of cloþing and of good array
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Now may I were an hose vpon myn heed
And wher my colour was boþe freissh and reed
Now is it wan and of a ledene hewe
Who so it vseth sore schal he rewe
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And of my swynk ȝit blered is myn yȝe
lo which auauntage it is to multiplye
That slydynge science haþ me maad so bare
That I haue no good where þat euer I fare
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And ȝit I am endetted so þer by
Of gold þat/ I haue borwed trewely
þat whil I lyue I schal it quite neuere /
lat euery man be war by me for euere
Line 737
What maner man þat casteþ him þerto
If he continue I holde his þrifte y-do [folio 180b]
So help me god þer-by schal he not wynne
But empte his purs and make his wittes þinne
Line 741
And whan he þorugh his madnesse and folye
haþ lost his owne good þorugh Iepardye
þanne he exciteþ oþer men þerto
To lese here good as himself haþ do
Line 745
ffor vnto schrewes Ioye it is and ese
To haue here felawes in peyne and disese
