"Thy werk so offtë sythe a day?
The semeth trewly (I may say),
Ther-in (who consydreth al,)
Thy wyt ys verray dul & smal,
Line 11332
(As to myn oppynyoun)
Ydel, thyn occupacioun:
Yiveth to me an evydence
To yivë to the no credence
Line 11336
To no thyng that thow hast me sayd;
And though that thow be euele apayd, [folio 174b] [[St. and C.]]
I shal seyn trouthe, as semeth me: [[St. and C.]]
Yt wer merveyl thow sholdest the [[thee St.]]
Line 11340
So symple a crafft on the to take,
To makë nattys, & vnmake;
The wychë [[whiche St., wych C.]] crafft (whan al ys souht)
Ys so pore, yt wynneth nouht."
Line 11344
The nat-makere:
'Touchyng my crafft, wych I vse,
To the I may me thus excuse:
Thogh yt be symple, & pore off name,
Therfor thow sholdest me nat blame:
Line 11348
Swych as I kan, swych I acheue:
Thys, no cause me to repreue,
Nor to rebuke off no ffolye.
'Yiff ye aduerten prudently,
Line 11352
Euery man hath nat a fforge, [Stowe folio 200b]
Crownys off gold, in for to forge;
Nor ffolkys allë, [[alle St., alle C.]] yong nor old,
Kan nat the crafft to chaungë gold;
Line 11356
Nor alle may nat be Iowelerys:
Ech crafft hath hys offycerys:
Nor alle ffolk may nat noblys telle;
Nor alle ffolk may nat Rubyes selle;
Line 11360
ffor konnyng thanne wer off no prys,
Yiff ech man were alychë wys.
'Lerne ek off me, thys sentence,
Ther muste be a dyfference
Line 11364
(Pleynly yiff thow lyst to knowe,)
Off Estatys hih & lowe,
And off crafftys ek also.
