| | And with that word he with a sobir chere | |
| | Began his tale as ye shul after here | |
| | O | Hateful harm condicion of pouert | |
| | With thrist . cold & hunger so cōfoundid | |
| | To asken help the shameth in thy hert | |
| | Yf thou non aske with nede art thou so woundid | |
| 5 | That verry nede vnwrappith al thy woundis hid | |
| | Magre thyn hed thou muste of indigence | |
| | Or stele or begge or borow thyn dispence | |
| | Thou blamyst Crist and sayst ful bitterly | |
| | He mys departiht riches temperal | |
| 10 | Thyn neyghebour thou witist synfully | |
| | And sayst thou hast to lite and he hath al | |
| | Parfay sayst thou one day he reken shal | |
| | When that his tayl shal brenne in the glede | |
| | For he not helpith the nedful in her nede | |
| 15 | Herkenyth what is the sentence of the wyse | |
| | Bet is to dyen than to haue indigence | |
| | Thy self neyghbour wol the despyse | |
| | If thou be poure farewel thy reuerence | |
| | Yet of the wiseman take his sentence | |
| 20 | Al they that poure men be wikk | |
| | Bewaar or thou come to the prik | |
| | Yf thou be poure thy brother hatith the | |
| | And alle thy frendis fle fro the allas | |
| | O riche marchauntis ful of wele ye be | |
| 25 | O nobyl and prudent folk as in this caas | |
| | Your baggis bith not fillyd with ambes aas | |
| | But with sys synk that rennyth in your chaunce | |
