[Sidenote: Tell me how do riches drive away necessity? Are not rich men liable to hunger, thirst, and cold?]
¶ whiche is þe manere or þe gise q{ uod} she þat rycches may dryuen awey nede. ¶ Riche folk 1944 may þei neiþer han hungre ne þrest. þise ryche men may þei feele no colde on hir lymes in wynter.
[Sidenote: You will say that the rich have wherewithal to satisfy these wants.]
¶ But þou wilt answere þat ryche men han y-nou[gh] wher wiþ þei may staunchen her hunger. { and} slaken her þrest 1948 { and} don awey colde.
[Sidenote: By riches indigence may be alleviated, but they cannot satisfy every want.]
¶ In þis wise may nede be co{ n}forted by rycchesses. but certys nede ne may nat al out{ er}ly be don awey.
[Sidenote: Even if gaping and greedy necessity be filled with riches, yet some cravings will remain.]
for þou[gh] þis nede þat is alwey gapyng { and} gredy be fulfilled wiþ rycchesses. { and} axe 1952 any þing [gh]it dwelleþ þanne a nede þat my[gh]t[e] ben fulfilled.
[Sidenote: A little suffices for nature, but avarice never has enough.]
¶ I holde me stille { and} telle nat how þat litel þing suffiseþ to nature. but certys to auarice ynou[gh] ne suffiseþ no þinge.
[Sidenote: If riches, then, add to our wants, why should you think that they can supply all your necessities?]
*¶ For syn þat rychesse ne may nat 1956 al don awey nede. but rychesse maken nede. what may it þanne be þat [gh]e wenen þat rychesses mowen [gh]eue{ n} [gh]ow suffisau{ n}ce.
[Linenotes: 1938 _nediþ no helpe_--nedede non help 1939 _my[gh]t[e]_--myhte 1940 _doutles_--dowteles 1941 _rycchesse_--Rychesses 1943 _helpe_--help _whiche_--whych 1944 _rycches_--Rychesse _dryuen_--dryue 1945 _hungre_--hungyr _þrest_--thurst 1946 _þei_--the _colde_--coold _in_--on 1947 _wilt answere_--wolt Answeren _y-nou[gh]_--y-now 1948 _þrest_--thurst 1949 _colde_--coold 1950 _nat_--omitted 1951 _outerly_--vtrely 1953 _my[gh]t[e] ben_--myhte be 1957 _rychesse_--Rychesses]
[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 [gh]itte 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.]