'wherfore, merveille neuere a del,
thaugh god suffred Israel,
oonly of his ryghtwesnesse,
to robben hem of their Richesse,
Line 23804
and spoylen hem of their Tresour. [Stowe folio 369b]
god gaf it hem for their labour,
And as for a mede in guerdoun,
Departyng from that Regioun.
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'They hadde disserued it of yore,
by gret labour that sat hem sore, [folio 293b]
thorugh cónstreynt of Kyng Pharao,
which wolde not suffren hem to go,
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Nor to departe in rest and pes,
for no massage of Moyses; [[message off mosese St.]]
but put hem euere in delay,
'and thus the lord can take a-way
Line 23816
Richesse of folkës vicïous, [[C. & St.]]
and yive it hem that be vertuous; [[C. & St.]]
As he hath done here in this place:
thou mayst beholde it with thy face.'
Line 23820
Pilgrim: [[St., om. C.]]
"Certes," quod I with hevy cher,
"In other places mo than her
(to tellë shortly, and not tarye)
I ha beholde the contrary,
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wher folk, by gret deuocïoun,
han kept their religïoun
ful streytly, in gret honeste,
that han falle in pouerte,
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bothe of liflood and vesture,
that thei myghtë [[myght C., St.]] nat endure,
Mischef hath hem brought so lowe.
and fayn I wold the causë knowe,
Line 23832
why god wil suffre their grevaunce,
forto lakke their suffisaunce."
Grace Dieu: [[St., om. C.]]
Quod Grace Dieu a-noon to me,
'I wil herof answere the,
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and make therof no gret delay;
but her cometh oon nov in our way,
