(167. Beggar.)
¶ " 'My namë was al þat I therë [there R, ther H.] gat;
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To wynne honour was only þe purpos
Whiche þat I took, or þat I cam ther-at;
Othir good hadde I non þan richë [riche R, rich H.] loos;
ffor al þe good there was, opne or cloos,
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Myn hertë myghtë [hert myght H R.] nat so wel content,
As þe renoun only, þat I ther hent.'
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(168. Beggar.)
¶ "Of coueytise he was no þing coupáble,
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He settë [sette R, set H.] nat þer by, þou mayst wel se.
ffy on þe! gredynes insaciable,
Of many a man, þat can nat content be
Of muk, al thogh neuer so moch haue he!
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The kynde is euere of wreched couetyse,
To coueyte ay, and haue, and nat suffyse.
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(169. Beggar.)
¶ "I wold, [that] euery knyght dide now þe same, [folio 22a]
And were of good no morë coueytous
Than he was: what! to gete a noble fame,
To knyghthode is tresór most precïous;
But I was neuere so auenterous,
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Renoun to wynnë by swerdës conquest,
ffor I was bred in á pesible nest.
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(170. Beggar.)
¶ "Vpon my bak come neuere haburgeoun,
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Ne my knyf drew I neuere in violence;
I may nat contrefetë Scipion
In armës, ne his worthi excellence
Of wilful pouert; but of indigence
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I am as riche as was euere any man,
Suffre it in pacience if þat I can.
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