(199. Beggar.)
¶ "I ymagynë whi þat nat hir list
Line 1387
With me now dele; age is colde & drye;
And whan þo two ben to a lady wist,
And þat I poore am eek for þe maystrie,
Swiche a man is vnlusty to hire ye,
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And wers to gropë: straw for impotence!
Sche loueþ yong folk, & large of dyspence.
Line 1393
(200. Beggar.)
¶ "Al þis þat I haue of fortunë seyde,
Line 1394
Is but a iapë, who [as who R.] seith, or a knak:
Now I a whilë bourdyd haue & pleyde,
Resorte I wol to that þat [þat, om. H R.] I first spake.
By-holde, & cast þou þine yë a-bak,
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What þou god hast a-gilt in tymë past,
Correct it, and to do so eft be a-gast.
Line 1400
(201. Beggar.)
¶ "Of holy chirche, my sonë, I conceyue [folio 26a]
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As ȝit ne hast þou non a-vancëment:
Ye courteours, ful often ye deceyue
Youre soulës, for þe désirous talént
Ye han to good; & for þat þou art brent
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With couetysë now, par auenture
Only for muk, þou ȝernest soulës cure.
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(202. Beggar.)
¶ "fful many men knowe I, þat gane and gape
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After som fat & richë benefice;
Chirche or prouendre [prebende R.] vnneþe hem may eschape,
But þei as blyue it henten vp and trice:
God graunté þei accepte hem for þe office,
Line 1412
And noght for þe profet þat by hem hongeþ, [hongeth R, longeþ H.]
ffor þat conceytë nat to prestehode longeþ.
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