(83. Beggar.)
¶ "And þe reuard of god may not be smal,
Line 575
His ȝiftës ben ful noble & profitabil;
ffor-þi ne lakkë þou not age at al;
Whan youþe is past, is agë sesonable.
Age haþ in-sighte how vnsure & vnstable
Line 579
Þis worldës cours is, by lengthe of his yeeres,
And can deffende hym from his scharpë breres.
(84. Beggar.)
¶ "Lord, wheþer it be maystrie to knowe
Line 582
Whan a man ofte haþ sundry weyës ride
Which is þe bestë? nay, for soþe I trowe;
Right so he þat haþ many a world abyde
Þer he in youþë wroghtë mis or dyde,
Line 586
His age it seeþ, & byt him it eschue,
And seekiþ weyës couenable & due.
Line 588
(85. Beggar.)
¶ "Whan þat þou hast assaydë boþë two, [folio 11b]
Line 589
Sad age, I seye, after þi skittish youþe,
As þou must nedys atteynë ther-to,
Or steruë ȝong, þan trowe I þou wolt bowe þe
To swichë conceytës as I haue nowþe [youeþe R.] ;
Line 593
And þankë god deuoutly in þin herte
Þat he haþ suffred þe þi youthe asterte.
Line 595
(86. Beggar.)
¶ "Youthë [your H.] ful smal [small R, smal H.] reward hath to goodnesse,
Line 596
And peril dredith he non, wot I wel;
Al his deuocioun and holynesse
At tauerne is, as for þe mostë [most H R.] del;
To Bachus signe & to þe leuësel
Line 600
His youþe him haliþ; & whan it him happiþ
To chirchë gon, of nycetë he clappiþ.
Line 602
