[6-text p 524]
Vn to this Philosophre / how shal I do
I se namoore / but that I am fordo
Myn heritage / moot I nedes selle
And been a beggere / heere may I nat dwelle
Line 1564
And shamen / al my kynrede in this place [folio 136b]
But I of hym / may gete bettre grace
But nathelees / I wole of hym assaye
At certeyn dayes / yeer by yeer to paye
Line 1568
And thanke hym / of his grete curteisye
My trouthe wol I kepe / I wol nat lye
¶ With herte soor / he gooth vn to his cofre
And broghte gold / vn to this Philosophre
Line 1572
The value / of fyue hundred pound I gesse
And hym bisecheth of his gentillesse
To graunte hym dayes of the remenaunt
And seyde maister / I dar wel make auaunt
Line 1576
I failled neuere / of my trouthe as yit
ffor sikerly / my dette shal be quyt
Towardes yow / how euere that I fare
To goon a begged / in my kirtle bare
Line 1580
But wolde ye vouche sauf/ vp on seuretee
Two yeer or thre / for to respiten me
Thanne were I wel / for elles moot I selle
Myn heritage / ther is namoore to telle
Line 1584
This Philosophre / sobrely answerde
And seyde thus / whan he thise wordes herde
Haue I nat holden couenant vn to thee?
¶ Yes certes / wel and trewely quod he
Line 1588
¶ Hastow nat had /thy lady / as thee liketh?
¶ No no quod he / and sorwefully he siketh
¶ What was the cause / tel me if thou kan?
¶ Aurelius / his tale anon bigan
Line 1592
And tolde hym al / as ye han herd bifoore
It nedeth nat/ to yow reherce it moore
¶ He seide / Arueragus of gentillesse
Hadde leuere dye / in sorwe / and in distresse
Line 1596
