[PROLOGUE OF THE MAN OF LAW'S TALE.] ¶ Incipit ffabula. [[There are no breaks in the MS between stanzas or Parts.]]
O Hateful harm condicion of pouert
With thurst with cold with hunger he confoundeth
To asken helpe þe schameþ in þin hert
If þou now axe wiþ neede art þou so wounded
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That verray neede vnwrappeth al þi wounde hid
Maugre þin heed þou most for Indigence
Or stele or begge or borwe þi dispence
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Thou blamest crist and seist ful bitterly
he mys departeþ richesse temporal
Thy neyghebour þou witest synfully
And seist þou hast to litel and he haþ al
Line 109
Par fey seistow somtyme he rekene schal
Whan þat his tail schal brennen in þe gleede
ffor he nought helpeþ needeful in here neede [folio 75b]
¶ Herkne what is þe menyng of þe wise
Bet is to deyen þan haue Indigence
This self neighebore wile þe dispise
If þou be pouer far wel þi reuerence
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yet of þe wise man tak þis sentence
Alle þe dayes of pore men ben wikke
Be war þerfore or þou come in þat prikke
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¶ If þou be pouere þi broþer hateþ þe
And alle þi freendes fleen fro þe allas
O Riche marchantz ful of wele be
O noble prudent folk as in þis cas
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youre bagges ben nought filled with ambes aas
But with Sis Cynk þat renneþ for ȝour chance
At Cristes masse merye may ȝe daunce
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