(59. Beggar.)
¶ "But þogh I olde & hore be, sonë myin,
Line 407
And porë be my clethyng & aray,
And not so wyde a gowne haue, as is þin,
So smal I-pynchid, ne so fresche and gay,
Mi redde, in happë, [happe R, hap H.] ȝit the perfet [profite R.] may;
Line 411
And likly, þat þou demest for folye, [folie R, foly H.]
Is gretter wysdom þan þou canste espye.
Line 413
(60. Beggar.)
¶ "Vndir an old pore habyt, regneþ oft
Line 414
Grete vertu, þogh it moustre porëly;
And where as gret array is vp on loft,
Vice is but seelden hid; þat wel wote I.
But not report, I pray þe, inwardly,
Line 418
Þat fresch array I generally depraue;
Þis worþi men mowe it wel vse & haue.
Line 420
(61. Beggar.)
¶ "But þis me þinkiþ an abusïoun, [folio 8b]
Line 421
To se on [one R.] walke in gownës of scarlet,
xij ȝerdës wyd, wit [with R.] pendant sleues downe
On þe grounde, & þe furrour þer-in set
Amountyng vnto twenty [MS. xxti] pound or bet;
Line 425
And if he for it payde haue, he no good
Haþ lefte him where-wit for to bye an hood.
Line 427
(62. Beggar.)
¶ "ffor þogh he iettë [gode R.] forth a-mong þe prees,
Line 428
And ouer lokë euerey porë wight,
His cofre and eke his purs ben penylees,
He haþ no morë þan he goþ in ryght.
ffor lond, rent, or catel, he may go light;
Line 432
Þe weght of hem schal not so mochë peyse
As doþ his gowne: is swiche array to preyse?
Line 434
