(27. Beggar and Hoccleve.)
¶ "What þat I may or can, ne wost þou noght;
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Hardyly, sonë, telle on how it is!"
¶ "Man, at a word, it is encombrous þoght
Þat causeþ me þis sorowe & fare [fare R.] amys."
¶ "Now, sone, & if þer no þing be but þis,
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Do as I schal þe seye, & þin estat
Amende I schal, but þou be obstinat,
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(28. Beggar.)
¶ "And wilfully rebelle & dissobeye,
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And liste not to my lorë the conforme;
ffor in swiche cas, what scholde I speke or seye,
Or in my bestë wysë þe enforme?
If þow it wayue, & take an oþer forme
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After þi childissh mysrulëd conceyt,
Þou dost vn-to þi self, harm & deceit.
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(29. Beggar.)
¶ "O þing seye I, if þou go feërlees [without a 'fere' or companion, felaweles H.] [folio 4b]
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Al solytarie, & counsel lakke, & rede,
As me þinkeþ, þi gyse is doutelees,
Þou likly art to bere a dotyd [fonned R.] heed.
Whil þou art soulë, [soole R, soul H.] þoght is wastyng seed,
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Swich in þe, & þat in grete foysoun,
And þou redeles, nat canst [kanst not R.] voyde his poysoun.
(30. Beggar.)
¶ "The boke seiþ þus,—I redde it yore agon,—
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'Wo be to hym þat list to ben allone! [¶ Ve soli! quia, si cadat, non habet subleuantem.]
ffor if he fallë, helpe ne haþ he non
To rysë'; þis seye I by þi persone;
I fonde þe soul, & þi wyttës echone
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ffer fro þe fled, & disparpled ful wyde;
Wherefore it semeþ, þe nediþ a gyde,
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