GLOUTON A LA TAVERNE

Now by-g}nneth Gloton • for to go to shryfte, And kayres hym to-kirke-ward • hus coupe to shewe. Fastyng on a fryday • forth gan he wende By Betone hous the brewestere* that bad hym good

[morwe, And whederwarde he wolde • the brew-wif hym asked. « To holy churche, » quath he • « for to hure masse; And sitthen sitte and be yshriuen • and synwe namore. » « Ich haue good aie, godsyb • Gloton, wolt thow

[assaye? »

« What hauest thow, » quath he • « eny bote spices? » « Ich haue piper and pionys • and a pound of garlik,

254 VÉPOPÉE MYSTIQUE.

A ferthyng-worth of fynkelsede • for fastinge-daies. »

Thenne goth Gloton yn • and grete othes after.

Sesse the sywestere • sat on the benche,

Watte the warynere • and hus wif dronke,

Thomme the tynkere * and tweye of hus knaues,

Hicke the hakeneyman • and Houwe the neldere,

Claryce of Cockeslane • the clerk of the churche,

Syre Peeres of Prydie • and Purnel of Flaundres,

An haywarde and an heremyte • the hangeman of Tyborne,

Dauwe the dykere • with a dosen harlotes

Of porteurs and of pykeporses • and pylede toth-drawers,

A rybibour and a ratoner • a rakere and hus knaue,

A ropere and a redyngkynge • and Rose the disshere,

Godefray the garlek-mongere • and GrifTyn the walish ;

And of vp-holders an hep • erly by the morwe

Geuen Gloton with glad chère • good aie to hansele.

Clément the coblere • cast of hus cloke, And to the newe fayre • nempned hit to selle. Hicke the hakeneynaan • hitte hus hod after, And bad Bette the bouchère * to be on hus syde, Ther wer chapmen y-chose • the chaffare to preise ; That he hadde the hod • sholde nat habbe the cloke ; The betere thyng by arby tours • sholde bote the werse. Two preysed the penyworthes • apart by hem-selue, And ther were othes an hepe • for other sholde haue the

[werse.

Thei couthe nouht by hère conscience • a-corde for

[treuthe, Tyl Robyn the ropere • aryse thei bysouhte, And nempned hym a nompeyr • that no debate were.

Hicke the hakeneyman • hadde the cloke,

In couenant that Clément • sholde the coppe fylle, And haue Ihe hakeneymannes hod • and hold hym y-serued ; And who repentyde rathest • shold aryse after, And grete syre Gloton • with a galon of aie.

Ther was lauhyng and lakeryng • and « let go the

[coppe ! »

Bargeynes and beuereges • by-gunne to aryse, And setyn so til euensong rang • and songe vmbwhyle,

Til Gloton hadde yglobbed* a galon and a gylle

He niyghte nother stappe ne stonde* tyl he a staf

[hadde.

Thanne gan he go • lyke a glemannes bycche, Som tyme asyde • and som tyme a-rere, As ho so laith lynes • for to lacche foules.

And when he drow to the dore • thanne dymmed bus

[eyen ; He thrumbled at the threshefold • and threw to the

[erthe, Tho Clément the coblere • cauhte hym by the mydel, For to lifte hym on loft * he leyde hym on bus knees ; Ac Gloton was a gret cherl • and gronyd in the liftynge... With al the wo of the worlde * bus wif and bus wenche Bere hym to bus bedde • and broubte hym ther-ynne ; And aliter al this excesse • he hadde an accidie, He slep Saterday and Sonday • tyl sonne yede to reste. Thenne awakyde he wel wan • and wolde haue ydronke ; The ferst word that he spak • was « ho hait the bolie ? »