That the pore is thus i-piled, and the riche forborn.
Ac if the king hit wiste, I trowe he wolde be wroth,
Hou the pore beth i-piled, and hu the silver goth;
Hit is so deskatered bothe hider and thidere,
That halvendel shal ben stole ar hit come togidere,
and acounted;
An if a pore man speke a word, he shal be foule afrounted.
Glossary.—297. bileve, remain.—300. shent, ruined. mede, reward, bribery.—303. for-pinched, pinched to pieces. to-toilled, laboured away. to-twiht, twitted away.—304. halvendel, one half.—307. god, goods. pans, pence.—309. flet, floor.—312. i-piled, robbed.—315. deskatered, scattered about.—318. afrounted, accosted (French, affronter).
Ac were the king wel avised, and wolde worche bi skile,