A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.
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If thou be richë, som wol yeve thee laud,
And say, it cometh of prudent governaunce;
And som wol sayen, that it cometh of fraud,
Outher by sleight, or by fals chevisaunce;
To say the worst, folk have so gret plesaunce;
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Yet suffre hem sayë—and trust right wel this,
A wikked tonge wol alway deme amis.