[5b. THE PREAMBLE.]
With this chanon / dwelled haue I .vij. ȝere
And of his science / am I neuere þe nere
Al þat I hadde / haue I lost ther by
And god woot/ so haue many mo þan I.
Ther I was wont/ to be right fressh and gay
Of clothing / and of good aray
Line 725
Now may I were / an hose vpon myn heed
And where my colour / was bothe fressh and reed
Now is it wan / and of leden hewe
who so it vse / sore shal him rewe
Line 729
And of my swynk ./ ȝit blered is myn ye
Lo which auauntage / it is to multiplye
That slidynge science / hath me maad so bare
That I haue no good / where þat euere I fare
Line 733
And ȝit I am / endetted so ther by
Of gold/ þat I haue borwed trewely
That while I lyue / I shal it quite neuere
Lat euery man / be war by me . for euere
Line 737
What maner man / that casteth him ther to
Ȝif he contynue / I holde his thrifte ydo
ffor so helpe me god / þer-by shal he not wynne
But empte his purs / and make his wittes thynne
Line 741
And whan he / þurgh his madnesse and folie
hath lost his owne good / þurgh Iupartie
Than he exciteth / other men ther-to
To lese her good / as him self hath do [Lichfield MS folio 174b]
Line 745
ffor vn-to shrewes / ioye it is and ese
To haue her felawes / in peyne and disese
