(235. Beggar.)
¶ "Among þe ryche also is an vsage,
Line 1639
Eche of hem his childe vn-to oþres wedde,
Þogh þei be al to yong & tendre of age,
No-wher my ripe ynow to go to bedde;
And hire conceyt in loue is leyde to wedde,
Line 1643
Men wit it wel, it is no questïoun,
Tyl yeerës come of hire discrecioun.
Line 1645
(236. Beggar.)
¶ "And whan þei han þe knoweleche of resoun,
Line 1646
Þan may þei noþer fynden in hire herte
To louë oþer; al out of sesoun
Þei knyt ben, þat in-tó wedlók so sterte:
Þis makeþ many a couple for to smerte.
Line 1650
O couetyse! þin is al þe gilt
Of þis; & mo deceyuë ȝit þow wilt.
Line 1652
(237. Beggar.)
¶ "Also þey þat for luste chesen hir make [folio 30b]
Line 1653
Only, as oþer while it is vsage,
Wayte wel, þat [that R, om. H.] whan hir luste is ouerschake,
And þere-with wole hir louës hete asswage,
Þanne is to hem [hem R, hym H.] an helle, hire mariage
Line 1657
Þanne þei desyren for to be vnknyt,
And to þat ende studie in al hir wyt.
Line 1659
(238. Beggar.)
¶ "Styntynge þe cause, þe éffect [þe cause theffect R, cause þe feffect H.] styntiþ eek; [¶ Cessante causa.]
Line 1660
No lenger forster, no lenger lemman;
Loue on lust groundid, is not worþ a lek.
But who for vertu weddeþ a womman,
And noþer for muk ne for lust, þat man
Line 1664
Þe formë due of matrimoignë sueþ,
And soulës hurt & bodyes grief eschueþ.
Line 1666
