‘Nay,’ quod the syke man, ‘by Seint Simoun!
I have be shriven this day at my curat; 2095
I have him told al hoolly myn estat;
Nedeth na-more to speke of it,’ seith he,
‘But if me list of myn humilitee.’ (390)
2095. Hl. of (_for_ at). 2096. E. Hn. Hl. hoolly al; _rest_ al holly
(holy). 2097. E. Hl. speken.
‘Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make our cloistre,’
Quod he, ‘for many a muscle and many an oistre, 2100
Whan other men han ben ful wel at eyse,
Hath been our fode, our cloistre for to reyse.
And yet, god woot, unnethe the fundement
Parfourned is, ne of our pavement
Nis nat a tyle yet with-inne our wones; 2105
By god, we owen fourty pound for stones!
Now help, Thomas, for him that harwed helle!
For elles moste we our bokes selle. (400)
And if ye lakke our predicacioun,
Than gooth the world al to destruccioun. 2110
For who-so wolde us fro this world bireve,
So god me save, Thomas, by your leve,
He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne.
For who can teche and werchen as we conne?
And that is nat of litel tyme,’ quod he; 2115
‘But sith that Elie was, or Elisee,
Han freres been, that finde I of record,
In charitee, y-thanked be our lord. (410)
Now Thomas, help, for seinte charitee!’
And doun anon he sette him on his knee. 2120
2101, 2. Hl. _transposes these lines_. 2105. E. Cm. tyl; _rest_
tyle. 2110. E. Thanne. 2116. Hl. siththen; Cp. Ln. sethyns; Cm.
sithe that; E. syn; Hn. Ln. sith. E. Ennok; _rest_ Elie (Elye).
This syke man wex wel ny wood for ire;
He wolde that the frere had been on-fire
[384: T. 7705-7738.]
With his false dissimulacioun.
‘Swich thing as is in my possessioun,’
Quod he, ‘that may I yeven, and non other. 2125
Ye sey me thus, how that I am your brother?’
2121. E. wax; Hn. weex; _rest_ wex. 2125. Hl. yeue yow; _rest om._
yow. 2126. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ how.
‘Ye, certes,’ quod the frere, ‘trusteth weel;
I took our dame our lettre with our seel.’ (420)
2128. Hn. Cm. Cp. Ln. with; E. and; Pt. of; Hl. vnder.
‘Now wel,’ quod he, ‘and som-what shal I yive
Un-to your holy covent whyl I live, 2130
And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anoon;
On this condicioun, and other noon,
That thou departe it so, my dere brother,
That every frere have also muche as other.
This shaltou swere on thy professioun, 2135
With-outen fraude or cavillacioun.’
2129. Cp. Hl. yiue; _rest_ yeue. 2133. E. leeue; _rest_ dere (deere).
‘I swere it,’ quod this frere, ‘upon my feith!’
And ther-with-al his hand in his he leith: (430)
‘Lo, heer my feith! in me shal be no lak.’
2137. E. Pt. by; _rest_ vpon.
‘Now thanne, put thyn hand doun by my bak,’ 2140
Seyde this man, ‘and grope wel bihinde;
Bynethe my buttok ther shaltow finde
A thing that I have hid in privetee.’
2140. E. Now thanne put in; Hn. Hl. Now thanne put; Pt. Now than put;
Cp. Ln. Than putte (put).
‘A!’ thoghte this frere, ‘this shal go with me!’
And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte, 2145
In hope for to finde ther a yifte.
And whan this syke man felte this frere
Aboute his tuwel grope there and here, (440)
Amidde his hand he leet the frere a fart.
Ther nis no capul, drawinge in a cart, 2150
That mighte have lete a fart of swich a soun.
2145. Hl. launched; Cp. Pt. Ln. launceth. 2148. Cm. tewel; Hl. tuel;
Ln. touele.
‘The frere up stirte as doth a wood leoun:
‘A! false cherl,’ quod he, ‘for goddes bones,
This hastow for despyt doon, for the nones!
Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may!’ 2155
2153. E. Pt. Ln. fals.
His meynee, whiche that herden this affray,
[385: T. 7739-7773.]
Cam lepinge in, and chaced out the frere;
And forth he gooth, with a ful angry chere, (450)
And fette his felawe, ther-as lay his stoor.
He looked as it were a wilde boor; 2160
He grinte with his teeth, so was he wrooth.
A sturdy pas doun to the court he gooth,
Wher-as ther woned a man of greet honour,
To whom that he was alwey confessour;
This worthy man was lord of that village. 2165
This frere cam, as he were in a rage,
Wher-as this lord sat eting at his bord.
Unnethes mighte the frere speke a word, (460)
Til atte laste he seyde: ‘god yow see!’
2161. Hn. Cm. Pt. grynt; Cp. grynded; Ln. grenteth. 2162. E. Hn. Cp.
Hl. paas. E. lordes court; _rest om._ lordes. 2163. E. _om._ ther.
This lord gan loke, and seide, ‘_benedicite!_ 2170
What, frere Iohn, what maner world is this?
I see wel that som thing ther is amis.
Ye loken as the wode were ful of thevis,
Sit doun anon, and tel me what your greef is,
And it shal been amended, if I may.’ 2175
2170. E. bigan to; Cm. gan to; _rest_ gan. 2172. _So_ Hn. Cm.; E. I
trowe som manerthing. 2174. Cp. greef; Cm. Hl. gref; E. Hn. grief.
2175. E. Cp. Ln. Hl. if that; _rest om._ that.
‘I have,’ quod he, ‘had a despyt this day,
God yelde yow! adoun in your village,
That in this world is noon so povre a page, (470)
That he nolde have abhominacioun
Of that I have receyved in your toun. 2180
And yet ne greveth me no-thing so sore,
As that this olde cherl, with lokkes hore,
Blasphemed hath our holy covent eke.’
2181. E. Cp. Ln. _om._ ne.
‘Now, maister,’ quod this lord, ‘I yow biseke.’
‘No maister, sire,’ quod he, ‘but servitour, 2185
Thogh I have had in scole swich honour.
God lyketh nat that “Raby” men us calle,
Neither in market ne in your large halle.’ (480)
2185. E. Cp. Pt. Ln. _om._ sire. 2186. E. swich; Hl. such; _rest_
that.
‘No fors,’ quod he, ‘but tel me al your grief.’
‘Sire,’ quod this frere, ‘an odious meschief 2190
This day bitid is to myn ordre and me,
[386: T. 7774-7808.]
And so _per consequens_ to ech degree
Of holy chirche, god amende it sone!’
2190. E. he (_for_ this frere). 2192. E. Pt. in; _rest_ to.
‘Sir,’ quod the lord, ‘ye woot what is to done.
Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour; 2195
Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour.
For goddes love your pacience ye holde;
Tel me your grief:’ and he anon him tolde, (490)
As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what.
The lady of the hous ay stille sat, 2200
Til she had herd al what the frere sayde:
‘Ey, goddes moder,’ quod she, ‘blisful mayde!
Is ther oght elles? telle me faithfully.’