(255. Beggar.)
¶ "In schort, þis is of þi grief énchesoun: [Nota [in 1700 hand].]
Line 1779
Of þin annuitee, þe paiëment,
Whiche for þi long seruyse is þi guerdoun,
Þou dredest, whan þou art from court absent,
Schal be restreynëd, syn þou now present
Line 1783
Vnneþës mayst it gete, it is so streit;
Þus vnder-stode I, sonë, þi conceit;
Line 1785
(256. Beggar and Hoccleve.)
¶ "ffor of þi liflode is it þe substaunce;
Line 1786
Is it nat þus?" "Ȝis, sooþly, fader, it."
"Now, sone, to remedïe þis greuánce,
Canstow no weyës fynden in þi wyt?"
"No, certes, fader, neuere koude I ȝit.'
Line 1790
"May no lordschepë, sonë, þe auayle,
ffor al þi long seruice & þi trauaile?"
Line 1792
(257. Hoccleve.)
¶ "What, fadir? what? lordës han for to done [folio 33a]
Line 1793
So mych for hem-self, þat my mateere
Out of hir myndë slippith away soone.
The world is naght swich now, my fadir deere,
As ye han seene; farwel, frendely maneere!
Line 1797
So go[d] me amende, I am al destitut
Of my lyflodë; god be my refut!
Line 1799
(258. Hoccleve.)
¶ "I am vn-to so streyt a poynt ydryue,
Line 1800
Of thre conclusïons moot I cheese one:
Or begge, or stele, or sterue; I am yschryue
So ny, þat oþer way ne se I noon.
Myn hert is also deed as is a stoon;
Line 1804
Nay, ther I faile, a stoon no thyng ne felith;
But thoght me brenneth, and freesyngly keelith
