= Line blocks

Lend us a couple of bob till Thursday. \\I'm absolutely skint. \\But I'm expecting a postal order and I can pay you back as soon as it comes. \\Love, Ewan.

Another one:

This is a line block.  It ends with a blank line. \\    New lines begin with a vertical bar ("|"). \\    Line breaks and initial indent are significant, and preserved. \\        Continuation lines are also possible.  A long line that is intended to wrap should begin with a space in place of the vertical bar. \\    The left edge of a continuation line need not be aligned with the left edge of the text above it.

This is a second line block. \\\\Blank lines are permitted internally, but they must begin with a "|".

Take it away, Eric the Orchestra Leader!

A one, two, a one two three four \\\\Half a bee, philosophically, \\    must, *ipso facto*, half not be. \\But half the bee has got to be, \\    *vis a vis* its entity. D'you see? \\\\But can a bee be said to be \\    or not to be an entire bee, \\        when half the bee is not a bee, \\            due to some ancient injury? \\\\Singing...

The end.
