'I ha be brouht to hih estaat
Line 14624
fful offtë sythe, (as men may se)
And reysed vn-to [[vppe to St.]] hih degre.
'But yiff thys mantel wer asyde,
Vnder wych I do me hyde, [folio 221b] [[St. & C.]]
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Off ffolk (that vnderstondë wel) [[St. & C.]]
I shold be preysed neueradel; [[Stowe MS.]]
For ffolkys wolden at me chace, [[St. & C.]]
Hunte at me in euery place, [[St. & C.]]
Line 14632
Sette on me ful many a lak.
'And she that bereth me on hyr bak,
I shal the maner off hyr telle,
Yiff thow wylt a whylë dwelle.'
Line 14636
The Pylgrym asketh: [[St., om. C.]]
Thanne quod I, or she was war,
Vn-to the oldë that hyr bar:
"Certys, in myn oppynyoun,
Off lytel reputacïoun,
Line 14640
Nor off no prys, thow sholdest be,
Be thyn offyce, (as semeth me,)
To bern A best so cruel,
Vp-on thy bak, Irous and fel."
Line 14644
The Olde Answerde: [[St., om. C.]]
'I am she that ful wel kan [Stowe folio 258a]
Scorne and mokkë many A man;
And to myn offyce, yt ys due,
ffolkys lowly to salue.
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'Lordys that ben off gret estaat,
On hem I wayte, Erly and late;
In wrong and ryght, I kan hem plese,
And pleynly to ther hertys ese,
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fful gret plesaunce I kan do;
My song to hem ys 'placebo,'
And they ful wel vp-on me leve,
I seyë [[seye St., sey C.]] nat that sholde hem greue;
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And thogh they kan me nat espye,
Vn-to hem I kan wel lye.
'And my crafft I thus devyse:
I sey to ffoolys, they be wyse,
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And to folk that ben hasty,
