¶ Sir [Gij] þonked þat leuedi oft,
Bot alle anoþer was his þouȝt
Þan he wald to hir say.
When þe grace were y-seyd, [C line 10521]
& þe bordes adoun layd,
Line 5
Out of toun he went his way.
Into a forest wenden he gan
To an hermite he knewe er þan,
To speke him ȝif he may.
&, when he þider comen was,
Line 10
Þe gode hermite þurch godes grace
Was dede & loken in clay.
¶ Þan þouȝt sir Gij anon
Þat wald he neuer þennes gon
Þer whiles he war oliue.
Wiþ a prest he spac of þat cuntray
Þat dede him seruise ich day,
Line 5
& of his sinnes gan schriue.
Wiþ him he hadde þer a page
Þat serued him in þat hermitage
Wiþouten chest & striue.
No lenger was he liues þere
Line 10
Bot niȝen moneþes of a ȝere,
As ȝe may listen & liþe.
¶ In slepe as Gij lay aniȝt,
God sent an angel briȝt
Fram heuen to him þare.
'Gij,' seyd þe angel, 'slepestow?
Hider me sent þe king Iesu
Line 5
To bid þe make þe ȝare;
For bi þe eiȝtenday at morwe
He schal deliuer þe out of þi sorwe,
Out of þis warld to fare.
To heuen þou schalt com him to,
Line 10
& liue wiþ ous euer-mo
In ioie wiþouten care.'
