(698)
¶ And if þat á man of symple degree,
Line 4880
Or pore of birth, or ȝonge, be wel conseile, [be, goode counseile Yow yeve R.]
Admytte his resoun and take it in gre:
Why naght, my godë lorde? what shuld yow eyle?
But men do naght so; where-of I merueyle;
Line 4884
Þe worlde fauórith ay þe richës sawe,
Þow þat his conseil be noght worth an hawe.
Line 4886
(699)
¶ What he seith, is vp to þe clowdës bore; [¶ Ecclesias|tici xiiijo diues locutus est, & omnes tacuerunt, & verbum illius vsque ad nu|bes perdu|cunt: pauper locutus est, & dicunt, 'quis est hic?' &c.]
Line 4887
But and þe porë spekë worth þe twey,
His seed naght spryngë [spryng H R.] may, it nys but lore;
Thei seyen, "what is he, þis? lat hym goo pley!
O! worthi princë, beth wel ware, I prey,
Line 4891
Þat your hye dygnite and sad prudénce
No desdein haue [haue R, om. H.] of þe porës senténce.
Line 4893
(700)
¶ Thogh men contrárie eek your óppynyoun,
Line 4894
Þei may, per cas, conseilë [counceile R, conseil H.] yow þe best;
Also ye ben at your eleccioun
To doo or leuë, as your seluen lyst.
If it be gode, impresse it in þe chest
Line 4898
Of your memórie, and excusith it [execute R] ;
If it naght be, to leue it, is a wyt.
Line 4900
(701)
¶ And if yow list your cónseilere to preue,
Line 4901
Ye feynë mot ye haue necessite
Of golde; and if he sterë yow, and meeue,
Your Iewels ley in weddë, [wedde R, wed H.] certeyn he
Loueth your éstate and prosperite;
Line 4905
But he þat redith yow, your peple oppresse, [folio 86b]
He hatheth [hateth R.] yow, certéyne, it is no lesse.
Line 4907
