| Flee fro the prees and dwelle with sothfastnesse; |
| Suffyce unto thy thing, though it be smal, |
| For hord hath hate, and climbing tikelnesse, |
| Prees hath envye, and wele blent overal. |
| 5 | Savour no more than thee bihove shal, |
| Reule wel thyself that other folk canst rede, |
| And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede. |
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| Tempest thee noght al croked to redresse |
| In trust of hir that turneth as a bal; |
| 10 | Gret reste stant in litel besinesse. |
| Be war therfore to sporne ayeyns an al, |
| Stryve not, as doth the crokke with the wal. |
| Daunte thyself, that dauntest otheres dede, |
| And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede. |
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| 15 | That thee is sent, receyve in buxumnesse; |
| The wrastling for this world axeth a fal. |
| Her is non hoom, her nis but wildernesse: |
| Forth, pilgrim, forth! Forth, beste, out of thy stal! |
| Know thy contree, look up, thank God of al; |
| 20 | Hold the heye wey and lat thy gost thee lede, |
| And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede. |
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| Therfore, thou Vache, leve thyn old wrecchednesse; |
| Unto the world leve now to be thral. |
| Crye him mercy, that of his hy goodnesse |
| 25 | Made thee of noght, and in especial |
| Draw unto him, and pray in general |
| For thee, and eek for other, hevenlich mede; |
| And trouthe thee shal delivere, it is no drede. |