(211. Beggar.)
¶ "If þat þou haddest per cas ben a prest,
Line 1471
Þou woldest han as wantonly þe gyëd
As doþ þe nycest of hem þat þou seest;
And god for-beedë þou þe haddist tyëd
Þer-to, but if þin hertë myght han plyëd
Line 1475
ffor to obserue it wel! be glade and merye,
Þat þou art as thou art, [as thou art R, om. H.] god þanke and herie!
(212. Beggar.)
¶ "Þe ordres of prestehode and of wedlok
Line 1478
Ben boþë vertuous, with-outen fabil;
But vnderstondë wel, þe holy ȝok
Of prestehode is, as it is resonabil
Þat it so be, þe morë commendabil;
Line 1482
Þe lesse of hem, of mede haþ hábundance;
Men han meryt, after here gouernaunce.
Line 1484
(213. Beggar and Hoccleve.)
¶ "But how ben þi felawës lokyd to [folio 27b]
Line 1485
At hoom? ben þey not wel benéficëd?"
"Ȝis, fadir, ȝis! þer is on clept 'nemo';
He helpeþ hem; by hym ben [ben R, om. H.] þei chericëd:
Nere he, þey weren porëly cheuycëd;
Line 1489
He hem auanceth; he ful hir frende is;
Sauf only hym, þey han but fewë frendes.
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(214. Hoccleve.)
¶ "So many a man as þei þis many a yeer
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Han writen for, ȝit [Ȝit, om. H R.] fyndë can þei [I R.] non
So gentel, or of hir estat so cheer, [dere R.]
Þat onys liste for hem to ryde or gon,
Ne for hem speke a worde; but dombe as ston
Line 1496
Þei standen, where hir speche hem myght awayle;
ffor swiche folk is vnlusty to trauaile.
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