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6685 'Telle me thanne how a man may lyven,
6686 That al his good to pore hath yiven,
6687 And wole but oonly bidde his bedis,
6688 And wole but only ***** ****** ******
6689 May he do so?' 'Yhe, sir.' 'And how?'
6690 'Sir, I wole gladly telle yow:
6691 Seynt Austyn seith, a man may be
6692 In houses that han pprete,
6693 As templers and hospitelers,
6694 And as these chanouns regulers,
6695 Or white monkes, or these blake
6696 I wole no mo ensamplis make
6697 And take therof his sustenyng,
6698 ffor therynne lyth no begging;
6699 But other weys not, ywys,
6700 Yit Austyn gabbith not of this.
6701 And yit full many a monke laboreth,
6702 That god in hooly chirche honoureth;
6703 ffor whanne her swynkyng is Agone,
6704 They rede and synge in chirche Anone.
6705 'And for ther hath ben gret discorde,
6706 As many a wight may bere recorde,
6707 Upon the estate of mendiciens,
6708 I wole shortly, in youre presence,
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