A ȝong mon . ne mai noþing . so sone bi gyle. [Ms. me st. ne.]
As wommons face . whon heo doþ smyle.
FOr sum tyme . þer was a kyng
Line 585
þat hedde a sone . þat was ȝyng.
Wyse leches seiden . sir kyng wite ȝe
þat þi sone . schal blynd be
ȝif he seo liht . of sonne or mone
Til ten ȝer . beo ouer gone.
Line 590
þe kyng let make . a deop holet
In a Roche of ston . and him þer set.
Til þat ten ȝer . weore ouer gon
þat sonne . ne mone . sauh he non.
þen þe kyng lette . to fore him bringe
Line 595
Sumwhat . of al maner þinge.
Of alle þe þinges . he asked þe name
And þei him tolden . wiþ outen blame.
þe child asked ek . wiþ dreri chere.
What name . þat wymmen beere.
Line 600
A seruaunt onswerd . in murþe þat while
Deueles þei ben . Men to be gyle.
þe kyng asked . his sone also
What þing . him lyked best . of alle þo
What schuld i loue ffader . seide he þen
Line 605
But þe deueles . þat bi gylen men.
In no þing elles . of þeose so sone
Mi wille is chaufed . but on hem one.
Whon he þis tale . to þe kyng hedde told.
Wite wel sire he seide . and beo bold.
Line 610
þou schalt not chaunge . þi sones cher
But onliche . on þis maner.
ÞE kyng dude aftur . his teching.
And ordeynd feir wimmen . wiþ clene cloþing.
To serue his sone . al him aboute
Line 615
And putte alle men . from him oute.
þe wymmen duden . al heore wil parde
ffor to attame . his chastite
he nedde nouȝt . on to bi holde
Ne to speke wiþ . but hem so bolde.
Line 620
þis clerk þan . his craft bi gan.
A wikked spirit set . in Josafath þan
þat in his herte . a fuir hedde tent.
þe maidens siht . wiþ outen him brent.
Whon he sauȝ . þat he was so bi stad.
Line 625
I. troubled he was . and mournyng mad.
And to god he dude . him self comende
þat cumfort . and counseil . him sone sende.
þat dilyuered . him anon
ffrom þat foul . temptacion.
Line 630
Aftur þat . to him was sent
A kynges feir douhtur . verreyment.
þat was in þis world . fadur les
þen he hir preched . of godnes.
And heo onswerde . wiþ outen Ire
Line 635
ȝif þat þou haue . gret disyre
To torne me fro . ydoles worschiping
Joyne me to þe . wiþ weddyng.
ffor cristen men vsen . such doyng.
And preysen such maner . of lyuyng.
Line 640
Patriarkes . and prophetes also
And peter þe apostel . hedde wyf þer to
Josafath seide . to hire a ȝeyn.
þis þou me tellest . al in veyn.
hit is soffred . to cristen men . wedded to be.
Line 645
But not to hem . þat han auouwed chastite
heo onswerde . to him þo
As þou wolt . beo hit so.
ȝif þou disyre . my soule to saue
Graunte me . þat i schal . of þe haue
Line 650
