(151. Beggar.)
¶ "Conceyued haue I, þat þou gret fere haast
Line 1051
Of pouert, for to fallen in þe snare;
Thow haast þer-innë [inne R, in H.] 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;
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