Tyrwhitt reads _also_ for the former _as_; which is legitimate, because
_as_ and _also_ are merely different spellings of the same word.
It is true that the final _e_ in _wondre_, and again that in _werke_, are
both elided, under similar circumstances, in the two lines next following;
but the cases are not quite identical. The _e_ in _knewe_, representing not
merely the plural, but also the subjunctive mood, is essential to the
conditional form of the sentence, and is of much higher value than the
others. If this argument be not allowed, Tyrwhitt's suggestion may be
adopted. Or we may read _knewen_.
608. _rit_, contracted from _rideth_; see A. 974, 981. See also _slit_ for
_slideth_ in l. 682 below.