[Sidenote: [The 3^de Met{ur}.]]
[Sidenote: The rich man, had he a river of gold, would never rest
content.]
++Al were it so þat a ryche couetous man hadde riuer 1960
fletynge alle of golde ȝitte sholde it neuer staunche
hys couetise.
[Sidenote: Though his neck be loaded with precious pearls, and his
fields be covered with innumerable herds, yet shall unquiet care
never forsake him; and at his death his riches shall not bear him
company.]
¶ And þouȝ he hadde his nekke I-charged
wiþ p{re}ciouse stones of þe rede see. {and} þouȝ he do
erye his feldes plentiuo{us} wiþ an hundreþ oxen neuere 1964
ne shal his bytyng bysynesse forleten hym while he
lyueþ. ne þe lyȝt[e] rychesses ne shal nat beren hym [[pg 72]]
compaignie whanne he is dede.
[Linenotes:
1960 _riuer_--a Ryu{er}
1961 _alle_--al
_golde_--gold
_ȝitte_--yit
_staunche_--stau{n}chyn
1962, 1963 _þouȝ_--thow
1964 _erye_--Ere
_hundreþ_--hundred
1965 _while_--whyl
1966 _lyȝt[e]_--lyhte
_shal_--shol
1967 _dede_--ded]
[Headnote:
OF DIGNITIES.]