(87. Beggar.)
¶ "The causë why men oghten þider gon,
Line 603
Nat conceyue [conceyue R, cause H.] can his wyldë steerissh heed
To folwen it. Also bote is it non
To telle it him, for thogh men sowen seed
Of vertu in a yong man, it is deed
Line 607
As blyue, his rebel goost it mortifieþ;
Al þing sauf folye in a yong man dieþ.
Line 609
(88. Beggar.)
¶ "Whan I was yong I was ful rechëlees,
Line 610
Prowde, nyce, and riotous for þe maystrie,
And, among oþer, consciencëlees;
By þat sette I naght þe worþ of a flye;
And of hem haunted I þe compaignie
Line 614
Þat went on pylgrymagë to tauerne,
Which be-for vnthrift beriþ þe lanterne.
Line 616
(89. Beggar.)
¶ "There offryd I wel morë þan my tyþe, [folio 12a]
Line 617
And wit-drowe holy chirche his [holy chirches R.] duëtee;
My frendës me counseylëd often siþe,
Þat I, with lownesse & humylitee,
To my curat go scholde, & make his gree;
Line 621
But straw vnto hir reed! wolde I nat bowe
ffor aght þey kouden preyen all, or wowe.
Line 623
(90. Beggar.)
¶ "Whan folk wel rulyd dressyd hem to bedde,
Line 624
In tymë due by redë of nature,
To þe tauernë quykly I me spedde,
And pleyde at dees while þe nyghte wolde endure.
Þere, þe former of euery creature
Line 628
Dismembred y with oþës grete, & rente
Lyme for lyme, or þat I þennës wente.
Line 630
