'But other folkys bytternesse;
And whan I se ffolk lene and bare,
That ys my norysshyng and welffare;
Line 14856
And thus with me the gamë goth:
Gladdest I am, whan folk ar [[arn St.]] wroth;
Thér meschéff (I yow ensure)
Ys my fedyng and pasture;
Line 14860
The mylk off other menhys greff,
Off my fostryng ys most cheff;
And yiff I hadde ther-off plente,
I sholde be faat [[ffatt St.]] in my degre,
Line 14864
And for I ha nat myn Entent
Off plente, therfor, I am shent;
I wexë megre, pale and lene,
Dyscolouryd, off verray tene,
Line 14868
As I sholde yelde vp the breth;
And no thyng so sone me sleth [Stowe folio 262a]
At allë tymes, as whan I se [folio 225a]
Other folk in prosperyte;
Line 14872
And ther habundaunce in good,
That dryeth and sowketh vp my blood.
(The trouthë, yIff I shal yow teche)
Evene lyk an horsë leche.
Line 14876
'And I dar seyn, (in myn avys,)
Yiff that I were in paradys,
I sholdë deye, and nat abyde,
To beholde, on euery syde,
Line 14880
The Ioye and the ffelycyte
Off hem that ben in that contre;
To me yt sholde be gretë [[grete St., gret C.]] wrong,
ffor to duellyn hem among;
Line 14884
Yt wolde myn herte assonder rende;
And platly, to the worldys ende,
I dar wel conferme and seye,
I, envye, shal neuere deye,
Line 14888
Nor in no cas yelde vp the breth;
ffor he that ys ycallyd 'deth,'
Thorgh-out the worldë, [[worlde St., world C.]] fynally,
Shal be ded as sone as I.
Line 14892
'I am that beste serpentyne,
