þe revese tale / begynneþ here [folio 48b]
At Trumpyngton nouht fer fro Cambrugge
There goþe a broke . and ouere þat a brugge
Vppon þe whiche broke þere stant a Melle
And þis is verrey soþ þat .I. telle
Line 3924
A meller was þere duellinge mony a daie
As any pekok he was proude and gaie
Pipe he couþe and fisshen and nettes bete
And torne coppes and wele wrastel and schete.
Line 3928
Ay be his belte he bare a longe Panade
And of a swerde ful trenchant was þe blade
A Ioly popper bare he in his puche
Ther was no man for perile dorst him touche
Line 3932
A scheffeld þwitel bare he in his hose
Rounde was his face and kamuse was his nose
As pilled as an hape was his Sculle
He was a Market beter att þe fulle
Line 3936
Ther was no whihte þat dorst honde on him ligge
Bot if he swore he schole anone abegge
A þefe he was for soþe of corne and mele
And þat a sleigh . and vsand for to stele
Line 3940
His name was hoten deynous symkyne
A wife he had commen of Noble kinne
The parson of þe toune hir fadere was
Wiþe hire he ȝafe mony a panne of bras
Line 3944
For þat Simkin schold in his blode allye
Sche was yfostrede in a Nonnerye
ffor Simkin wold no wif as he seide
Bot sche were wele ynorissched and a maide
Line 3948
To saue his astate of ȝomanrye
And sche was proude and pert as a pye
A ful faire siht was it vppon hem tuo
On Halidaies be-forne hire wolde he go
Line 3952
