(British Library MS Harley 2253 fol. 64r)

5                        10                        15                    20                            25                    30                        35                        40                        45                        50                    55                        60                        65                        70

Ich herde men upo mold make muche mon,    Hou he beth itened of here tilyynge: Gode yeres and corn bothe beth agon;    Ne kepeth here no sawe ne no song synge. 1 Nou we mote worche, nis ther non other won,    Mai ich no lengore lyve with mi lesinge;    Yet ther is a bitterore bid to the bon: 2    For ever the furthe peni mot to the kynge.     Thus we carpeth for the kyng, and carieth ful colde,    And weneth forte kevere, and ever buth a-cast. Whose hath eny god, hopeth he nouht to holde,    Bote ever the levest we leoseth alast.     Luther is to leosen ther-ase lutel ys, 3    And haveth monie hynen that hopieth ther-to. The hayward heteth us harm to habben of his; 4    The bailif bockneth us bale and weneth wel do; 5 The wodeward waiteth us wo, that loketh under rys;    Ne mai us ryse no rest, rycheis, ne ro. Thus me pileth the pore, that is of lute pris. 6    Nede in swot and in swynk swynde mot swo. 7     Nede he mot swynde, thah he hade swore    That nath nout en hod his hed forte hude. 8 Thus wil walketh in lond, and lawe is forlore,    And al is piked of the pore, the prikyares prude. 9     Thus me pileth the pore and pyketh ful clene,    The ryche me raymeth withouten eny ryht; Ar londes and ar leodes liggeth fol lene,    Thorh biddyng of baylyfs such harm hem hath hiht. 10 Meni of religioun me halt hem ful hene,    Baroun and bonde, the clerc and the knyht. Thus wil walketh in lond, and wondred ys wene,    Falsshipe fatteth and marreth wyth myht.     Stont stille y the stude, and halt him ful sturne,    That maketh beggares go with bordon and bagges. Thus we beth honted from hale to hurne;    That er werede robes, nou wereth ragges.     Yet cometh budeles with ful muche bost:    "Greythe me selver to the grene wax. Thou art writen y my writ, that thou wel wost!" 11    Mo then ten sithen told I my tax. Thenne mot ich habbe hennen arost,    Feyr on fyhsh day launprey and lax. Forth to the chepyn geyneth ne chost,    Thah I sulle mi bil and my borstax.     Ich mot legge my wed wel yef I wolle,    Other sulle mi corn on gras that is grene. Yet I shal be foul cherl, thah he han the fulle; 12    That ich alle yer spare, thenne I mot spene. 13     Nede I mot spene that I spared yore,    Ageyn this cachereles cometh thus I mot care; 14 Cometh the maister budle, brust ase a bore,    Seith he wole mi bugging bringe ful bare. Mede I mot munten, a mark other more,    Thah ich at the set dey sulle mi mare. Thus the grene wax us greveth under gore,    That me us honteth ase hound doth the hare.     He us hontethe ase hound hare doth on hulle;    Seththe I tek to the lond such tene me wes taht. 15 Nabbeth ner budeles boded ar sulle,    For he may scape and we aren ever caht.     Thus I kippe and cacche cares ful colde,    Seththe I counte and cot hade to kepe. 16 To seche selver to the kyng I mi seed solde;    Forthi mi lond leye lith and leorneth to slepe. Seththe he mi feire feh fatte I my folde, 17    When I thenk o mi weole wel neh I wepe. Thus bredeth monie beggares bolde,    And ure ruye ys roted and ruls er we repe. 18     Ruls ys oure ruye and roted in the stre,    For wickede wederes by broke and by brynke. Thus wakeneth in the world wondred and wee    Ase god is swynden anon as so forte swynke. 19

upon earth; lamentation; (see note) they are weary; their plowing Good years; have gone away (see note) must work, there is no other way; (see note) longer; my falsehoods; (see note) (see note) fourth penny; must go     complain to hope to recover; are cast down Whoso; doesn't expect dearest [thing]; lose at last; (see note)         seized; [you] counted upon (see note)     woodkeeper; branch; (see note) wealth; repose (see note)         He must needs waste away (see note)     (see note)     they rob; (see note) steal; (see note) Their; people lie; lean (poor) (see note) Many; they bear themselves odiously; (see note)     credulity is taxed falsehood fattens     quietly in; pace; sternly; (see note) burden hunted; hall; corner; (see note) Those who before wore     beadles; arrogance; (see note) Prepare; (see note)     More; times; paid roasted hens lamprey; salmon; (see note) "Forth to the market gains not cost" (Wr) Though I should sell my halberd and my axe     must place my pledge well if Or sell             Needs must I spend what I saved earlier     bristled as a boar my dwelling strip Bribery; offer; or appointed day sell coat (i.e., to the core); (see note) They hunt us as; (see note)     hunts us as; hill; (see note) (see note) (see note) escape but; caught     seize     To obtain fallow     think of my weal I nearly breed many         Spoiled; rye; straw bank; (see note) dismay and woe (see note)