(231. Beggar.)
¶ "Þis knowe I soþ is, & knew it [it R, om. H.] fern a-gon,
Line 1611
And thei þat so don, hyli god offende:
Swich folk holde I homicidës echon;
Þei slen hemself, or god deþ to [do for R.] hem sende.
Mi sone, on goddës half I þe defende
Line 1615
Swiche medycynës þat þou noght receyue,
Syn þei god wraþ, [wraþþen R.] & soule of man deceyue.
Line 1617
(232. Beggar.)
¶ "Pas ouer þis: þou seydest þenchesoun
Line 1618
Why þat þou took vp-on þè maryage,
Was vn-to non oþer entencïoun,
But loue only þe sentë þat corage:
Now, sonë myn, I am a man of age,
Line 1622
And many wedded couples haue I knowe,—
Non of myn agë, many mo, I trowe,—
Line 1624
(233. Beggar.)
¶ "But I ne sawe, ne I ne spydë neuer, [folio 30a]
Line 1625
As longe as þat I hauë lyued ȝit,
Þe loue of hem departen or disseuere
Þat for goode louë bounden were & knyt;
God loueþ loue, & he wole forþere it.
Line 1629
At longë [longe R, long H.] rennyng, louë beste schal preue;
Þus haþ it ben, & ay schal, I bileue.
Line 1631
(234. Beggar.)
¶ "But þey þat marien hem for muk & good
Line 1632
Only, & noght for [for R, for þe H.] loue of þe persóne,
Not haue I wist þey any whylë stood
In restë; but of stryf is þere swiche wone,
As for þe morë part, twixt hem echone,
Line 1636
Þat al hir lyf þei lede in heuynesse:
Swich is þe fruyte to weddë for rychesse.
Line 1638
