"Infortunë' they me calle.
Line 19552
To ffolk vnworthy, and nat dygne,
I am somwhylë most benygne,
Lyggynge awayt in euery cost,
Line 19555
Off ffolk whom that [[that Tib., om. C., St.]] I cherysshe most.
And who that on me set hys lust,
I kan deceyve hym off hys trust.
Tak hed pleynly, and thow shalt se
A pleyn exaumple off thys tre,
Line 19560
How thys tre (at O word)
May be resemblyd to the world.
¶ 'ffyrst, in thys world be grete estatys,
Line 19563
Off kyngës, prynces, and off [[off om. Tib., of St.]] prelátys,
Wych in thys erthë [[world St.]] chaungen offte.
And the nestys hyh aloffte
Ben degrëes [[degrees Tib., degres C., St.]] off lordshepe,
That so offte on heihtë lepe,
Line 19568
Bothe off hyh and lowh degre.
'And they that al by-nethë be,
Loke vp-ward, and al day gaze,
As yt wer vp-on A maze:
Line 19572
Tho be they, that so offte
Desyre for to clymbe aloffte
To hih estat and hih degre,
ffrom ther estaat off pouerte.
Line 19576
'Somme [[(? None), Some Tib., St.]] off hem may longe abyde,
ffor I sette hem offte asyde;
Wych thyng to hym ys no thyng soote,
Whan they be longe pút vnder ffoote
Line 19580
Thorgh my double varyaunce.
And sommë kan han [[haue St., som kan haue Tib.]] suffysaunce,
And ben ryht glad in ther entent [folio 254b]
Off the lytel that god hath sent; [Tib folio 61a]
Line 19584
They ha [[haueth Tib.]] no care for [[of St., for Tib.]] ther dyspence.
And somme haue euere Indygence,
And kan with no thyng be content,
With coveytyse they be so blent,
Line 19588
Wych, for ther ounë wrechchydnesse, [Stowe folio 327b]
Lyve euere in pouert and dystresse.
'Touchyng my whel (yt ys no doute,)
