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XXXV. A MORAL ODE. [For a translation of this poem, See Old Eng. Hom. First Series, p. 158.]
Ich am nu elder þan ich was a wintre and a lore.
Ich wealde more þan idude mi wit oh to be more
To longe ich habbe child iben a worde and a dade.
Þeih ibie a winter eald to jung ich am on rade.
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Vnnet lif ich habbe ilad. and ȝiet me þincheð ilade.
Þan ibiðenche me þar on wel sore ime adrade.
Mast al ich habbe idon ís idelnesse and chilce.
Wel late ich habbe me biþoht bute me god do milce.
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Fele idel word ich habbe ispeken seðen ich speken cuðe.
And fele ȝeunge dade idon þe me ofðinkeð nuðe.
Alto lome ich habbe igult a werke and a worde.
Alto muchel ic habbe ispend to litel ileid on horde.
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Mast al þat me likede ar nu hit me mislicað.
Þe muchel folȝeð his iwil him selfen he biswicað.
Ich mihte habben bet idon. hadde ich þo iselðe.
Nu ich wolde ac ine mai for elde and for unhalðe
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Elde me is bistolen on ar ich hit iwiste.
Ne mai ich isien bifore me for smeche ne for miste
Arȝe we beð to don god to juel al to þriste
More eie stondeð man of man þan him do of criste.
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Þe wel ne deð þe hwile he mai wel ofte hit sal him rewen.
Þan alle men sulle ripen þat hie ar sewen.
Do al to gode þat he muȝe ech þe hwile he beð aliue.
Nu lipne noman to muchel to childe ne to wiue.
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Þe þe him selfe forȝeit for wiue oðer for childe
He sal cumen on euel stede bute him god be milde.
Sende god biforen him man þe hwile he mai to heuene.
For betre is on almesse biforen þan ben after seuene.
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