Elyng is the halle • vche daye in the wyke

Ther tlie lorde ne the lady • lyketh noughte to sytte.

Now hath vche riche a reule * to eten bi hym-selve

In a pryue parloure • for pore mennes sake.

Or in a chambre with a chymneye * and Icue the chiefe halle,

That was made for mêles * mcn to eten inné...

I haue y herde hiegh men • etyng atte table,

Carpen as thei clerkes were • of Cryste and of his mightes...

« Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre * sache a worrae in his blisse,

That bigyled the womman * and the man after ?...

Whi shulde we that now ben • for the werkes of Adam

Roten and to-rende?...

la vue de ce luxe incroyable remplit le poète d'appréhension. Retournons, pense-t-il, à Pierre le laboureur ; ces êtres riches, satisfaits et critiques sont la perte de l'État ; Pierre en sera la sauvegarde.