[THE PROLOGUE.]
Ohatfulle harme condicion of pouert [[Sloane MS 1685]]
With thrust with colde with hungre so confunded
To asken helpe þe shameth in þine hert
If þou now axe with nede arte þou so wounded
That verray nede vnwrappid al þi wounde hyd [Sloane MS 1685 folio 63b]
Maugre þine hede þou moste for Indegens
Or stele or begge or borowe þi dispense
Line 105
Thou blamest crist & seyst fulle vtterly
He in his departith rychesse temporal
Thy neghboure þou witest synfully
And seyste þou haste to lytelle & he hath alle
Line 109
Par fay seyste þou some tyme þou reken shalle
Whan þat his tayle shal brenne in þe glede
ffor he nouȝt helpith nedefulle in her nede
Line 112
Herkene what ys þe menynge of þe wise
Bet is to dien þan to haue Indigence ·
Thy self neghbore wol þe dispice
If þou be pore fare wele þi reuerence
Line 116
Ȝet of þe wise man take þis sentence ·
Alle dayes of pore men be wykke
Be ware þerfore or þou com in þat prik /
Line 119
If þou be pore þi Brother hatith þe
Alle þi ffrendes fleen fro þe Allas ·
O riche merchantes ful of wele be ȝe [[The MS trans|poses these two lines.]]
O noble prudent folke as in þis cas [[The MS trans|poses these two lines.]]
youre bagges buth not fullyd with ambes ais
But with sys synke þat renneth of your chaunce.
At cristes masse merie may ye daunce.
Line 126
