(195. Beggar.)
¶ "Hadde I done, sonë, as I þe consayle,
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Whan þat fortunës déceyuáble cheere
Lawhid on me, þan hadde I nat, sanȝ fayle,
Ben in þis wrecched plyt as þu seest heere.
Not knew my ȝouthe [thought R.] hir chaungeable maneere;
ffor whan I satte on hy vp-on hir wheel,
Hir gladsum look me madë truste hire wel.
Line 1365
(196. Beggar.)
¶ "I cowdë for no þing han wend or deemed
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Þat sche a-boutë baar dowble visage;
I wende sche haddë ben swiche as sche semed.
But nathëles, ȝit is it auantage
To him þat woful is, þat hir vsage
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Is for to flyttë fro [fro R, for H.] placë to place;
Hire variance is vn-to sum folke grace.
Line 1372
(197. Beggar.)
¶ "Whom so þat nedë greueþ & trauaylliþ, [folio 25b]
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Hire change is vn-to hym no grief or wo;
But þe contrárie of þat no þing auaylliþ,
As whan a man is wel, put hym þerfro.
What schal men calle hir? frende, or ellys fo?
Line 1377
I not; but call hire frend, whan þat sche esiþ,
And calle hir fo, whan þat sche man displesiþ.
(198. Beggar.)
¶ "But who so calle hir schal a sikir name?
Line 1380
Men mote hir clepe 'my lady chaungeabil,'
ffor hardily sche is þat seluë same;
A! nay! I gabbe, I am vn-resonabil;
Sche is 'my lady stidëfast and stabil,'
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ffor I endure in pouertës distresse,
And sche nat liste remuë [releeue R.] my duresse.
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