This worthy clerk benignely answerde,
‘Hoste,’ quod he, ‘I am under your yerde;
[390: T. 7899-7932.]
Ye han of us as now the governaunce,
And therfor wol I do yow obeisaunce,
As fer as reson axeth, hardily. 25
I wol yow telle a tale which that I
Lerned at Padowe of a worthy clerk,
As preved by his wordes and his werk.
He is now deed and nayled in his cheste,
I prey to god so yeve his soule reste! 30