(674)
¶ Allas! þogh [though R, þoght H.] þat a man disceuere & pleyne
Line 4712
To many a lord his méscheuous myserie,
The lord naght deyneth vndirstonde his peyne;
He settith noght þerby a blakberie.
Welthe in þe lordës sayl bloweþ ful merye;
Line 4716
But the nedy berith his sail so lowe, [folio 83a]
That no wynd of comfórt may in hit blowe.
Line 4718
(675)
¶ Of liberalitee yit forthermore [¶ Hic caueant capitanei, quod non retineant vadia.]
Line 4719
I tellë wole, as þat I haue herd seyn
Amongës wysë folk, gon is ful yore.
What man a ledere is, or a chiefteyn
Of peple, his labour is al wast and veyn,
Line 4723
But he be fre vnto his sowdëours,
If þat he sekë conquest of [or R.] honours.
Line 4725
(676)
¶ And specialy þat he hir duëtee
Line 4726
Abriggë naght, ne naght syncope hir wages
That hem assigned ben: in certeyntee,
Peril of schamë folwen swiche vságes.
Whan al a-counted is, tho auantáges
Line 4730
That founded ben of wrong and on repreef,
Ben naght but auantáges of mescheef.
Line 4732
(677)
¶ This makith couetise or Auarice
Line 4733
Roote of al harmës, fo to conscïence;
Of wikked purchas is sche Emperice,
And mochil hath, and ay haþ indigence.
Sho rather wil lyuen [live R, lyue H.] in abstinence
Line 4737
Of mete and drynkë, for hertës scantnesse,
Than for þe soule or bodyes holsumnesse.
Line 4739
