"ȝyf þou be wys, now þou leres
How þys lofe þe helpeþ at nede
To tylle þy soule with almës dede."
Line 5672
Pers, of hys slepë gan blynke,
And gretly on hys dreme gan þynke—
Syghyng with mornyng chere,
As man þat was yn gretë were,—
Line 5676
How þat he acouped was
with fendës fele for hys trespas,
And how þey wulde haue dampned hym þere,
Ȝyf mercy of Ihesu Cryst ne were.
Line 5680
Alle þys yn hys herte he kast,
And to hym self he spak at þe laste,
"Þat, for a lofe yn eueyl wylle
Halpe me yn so grete perel,
Line 5684
Mochë wlde hyt helpe at nede,
with godë wyl do almës [almas.] dede."
Fro þat tymë þan wax Pers
A man of so feyrë maners,
Line 5688
Þat no man myȝt yn hym fynde,
But to þe pore boþe meke and kynde;
A mylder man ne myȝt nat be,
Ne to þe pore, more of almes fre;
Line 5692
And reuful of herte also he was,
Þat mayst þou here lere yn þys pas.
Pers mette, vp-on a day,
A porë man, by þe way,
Line 5696
As naked as he was bore,
Þat yn þe see had allë [hadde al.] lore.
He come to Pers, þere he stode,
And asked hym sum of hys gode,—
Line 5700
Sumwhat of hys cloþyng,—
For þe loue of heuene kyng.
Pers, was of reuful herte,
