DÉBUT DU POÈME

In a somere seyson * whan softe was the sonne, Y shop me in-lo shrobbis • as y a shepherde were, In abit as an ermite • vnholy of werkes, Ich wente forth in t!ie woride • wonders to hure, And sawe meny cellis • and selcouthe thynges. Ac on a may morwenyng • on Maluerne huiles Me byfel for to slepe • for weyrynesse of wandryng ;

Ând in a launde as ich lay * lenede ich and slepte,

And merueylously me mette * as ich may yow telle ;

Al the welthe of this worlde • and the woo bothe,

Wynkyng as it were • wyterly ich saw liyt,

Of tryuthe and tricherye • of tresoun and of gjle,

Al ich saw slepjuge • as ich shal yow telle,

Esteward ich byhulde * after the sonne,

And saw a toure, as ich trowede • truthe was ther-ynne ;

Westwarde ich waitede * in a whyle after,

And sawe a deep dale * deth as ich lyuede,

Woned in tho wones • and wyckede spiritus.

A fair feld fui of folke • fonde ich ther bytwyne,

Aile manere of men * the mené and the ryche,

Worchynge and wandrynge . as the worlde asketli.

Somme putte hem to plow • and pleiden fui seylde,

In settyng and in sowyng • swonken fui harde.

And wonne that thuse wasters • with glotenye destroyeth.

Somme putte hem to pruyde • and parailede hem ther-

[after, In contenaunce and in clothynge * in meny kynne gyse ; In praiers and in penaunces " putten hem manye, Al for the loue of our lorde • Ivueden fui harde. In hope to haue a gode ende • and heuen-ryche blysse ; As ancres and eremites • that holden hem in hure cellys, Coueytynge nought in contrées • to carien a-boute For no lykerouse lyflode • hure lykame to plese. And somme chosen cheffare • they cheuede the betere. As hit semeth to oure syght • that soche men thryueth. And somme murthes to make • as mynstrals conneth, That woUen neyther swynke ne swete * bote swery grete

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And fpde vp foule fantesyes * and foies hem maken,

And hauen witte at wylle • to worche yf Ihey wolde.

That Paul prechith of hem * prouen ich myghte

Qui turpiloquium loquitur ' ys Lucyfers knaue.

Bydders and beggers • faste aboute yoden,

Tyl hure bagge and hure bely • were bretful ycrammyd,

Faytynge for hure fode • and fouhten atten aie.