(91. Beggar.)
¶ "And ofte it fals was þat I swoer or spak,
Line 631
ffor þe desire feruént of couetyse
ffonde [Fonde I R.] in periúrie no defaute or lak,
But euer entyced me þat in al wyse
Myn oþës gretë I scholde excercyse;
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And specially for lucre, in al manere
Swere and for-swere with boldë face & chere.
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(92. Beggar.)
¶ "But þis condicïoun, lo, hadde I euere:
Line 638
Þogh I prowde were in wordës or in speche,
Whan strokës cam a [in R.] place, I gan disseuere
ffro [Fro R, For H.] my felawës; soghte I neuere leeche
ffor hurt which I there [there R, om. H.] toke; what scholde I seche
A saluë, whan I þer-of hadde no nede?
I hurtlees was ay, þurgh impressyd drede.
Line 644
(93. Beggar.)
¶ "Tho myghte I spende an hundred [a C, H.] mark by ȝere, [folio 12b]
Al thyng deduct, [quytta R.] my sone, I gabbë noght;
I was so prowde, I helde no man my pere;
In pryde & leccherye was al my þoght;
No more I haddë set þerby or roght,
Line 649
A wif or mayde or nunë to deffoule,
Than scheete, or pleyën [pleyn H, pleye R.] at þe bal or boule.
Line 651
(94. Beggar.)
¶ "Ryght nycë girlës at my retenue
Line 652
Hadde I an heep, wyuës & oþere mo;
What so þey werë, I wolde non eschue:
And yeerës felë I contynued so;
Allas! I no þing was war of þe wo
Line 656
Þat folwyd me; I lookyd nat behynde;
Conceytës yongë [yonge R, yong H.] ben ful derke & blynde.
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