(155. Beggar.)
¶ "Beholde þe lyf [eek] [lyfe R.] of our sauëour, [¶ 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.]
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, [¶ 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.]
Line 1086
To seen a man, þat is but wormës mete,
Desire richés, [richesse R, riche H.] 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] [¶ 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.]
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 [stronge R, strong H.] for to haue,
His goed [goods R.] 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 [of hem vnpyke R.] 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;
