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[1] But now yongere men in tyme scornen me, whos fadris Y deynede not to sette with the doggis of my flok.
[2] Of whiche men the vertu of hondis was for nouyt to me, and thei weren gessid vnworthi to that lijf.
[3] Thei weren bareyn for nedynesse and hungur; that gnawiden in wildirnesse, and weren pale for pouert and wretchidnesse;
[4] and eeten eerbis, aud the ryndis of trees; and the roote of iunyperis was her mete.
[5] Whiche men rauyschiden these thingis fro grete valeis; and whanne thei hadden foundun ony of alle, thei runnen with cry to tho.
[6] Thei dwelliden in deseertis of strondis, and in caues of erthe, ethir on grauel, `ethir on cley.
[7] Whiche weren glad among siche thingis, and arettiden delices to be vndur buschis.
[8] The sones of foolis and of vnnoble men, and outirli apperynge not in erthe.
[9] But now Y am turned in to the song of hem, and Y am maad a prouerbe to hem.
[10] Thei holden me abhomynable, and fleen fer fro me, and dreden not to spete on my face.
[11] For God hath openyd his arowe caas, and hath turmentid me, and hath set a bridil in to my mouth.
[12] At the riytside of the eest my wretchidnessis risiden anoon; thei turneden vpsedoun my feet, and oppressiden with her pathis as with floodis.
[13] Thei destrieden my weies; thei settiden tresoun to me, and hadden the maistri; and `noon was that helpide.
[14] Thei felden in on me as bi a brokun wal, and bi yate openyd, and weren stretchid forth to my wretchidnessis.
[15] Y am dryuun in to nouyt; he took awei my desir as wynd, and myn helpe passide awei as a cloude.
[16] But now my soule fadith in my silf, and daies of turment holden me stidfastly.
[17] In nyyt my boon is persid with sorewis; and thei, that eten me, slepen not.
[18] In the multitude of tho my cloth is wastid, and thei han gird me as with coler of a coote.
[19] Y am comparisound to cley, and Y am maad lijk to a deed sparcle and aisch.
[20] Y schal cry to thee, and thou schalt not here me; Y stonde, and thou biholdist not me.
[21] Thou art chaungid in to cruel to me, and in the hardnesse of thin hond thou art aduersarie to me.
[22] Thou hast reisid me, and hast set as on wynd; and hast hurtlid me doun strongli.
[23] Y woot, that thow schalt bitake me to deeth, where an hows is ordeyned to ech lyuynge man.
[24] Netheles thou sendist not out thin hond to the wastyng of hem; and if thei fallen doun, thou schalt saue.
[25] Y wepte sum tyme on him, that was turmentid, and my soule hadde compassioun on a pore man.
[26] Y abood goodis, and yuelis ben comun to me; Y abood liyt, and derknessis braken out.
[27] Myn ynnere thingis buyliden out with outen my reste; daies of turment camen bifor me.
[28] Y yede morenynge, and Y roos with out woodnesse in the cumpenye, and criede.
[29] Y was the brother of dragouns, and the felow of ostrigis.
[30] My skyn was maad blak on me, and my boonys drieden for heete.
[31] Myn harpe is turned in to morenyng, and myn orgun in to the vois of weperis.
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