Of Pers þat was a tollere;
And y shal tellë ȝow as quyk,
How he was boþë gode and wyk.
Line 5572
[The Tale of Pers the Usurer.]
Seynt Ioun [Iohan.] þe aumenere [A tale.]
Seyþ Pers was an okerere,
And was swyþë coueytous,
And a nygun and auarous,
Line 5576
And gadred pens vnto store
As okerers doun aywhore.
Befyl hyt so, vp-on a day
Þat porë men sate yn þe way,
Line 5580
And spred here hatren on here barme
Aȝens þe sonnë þat was warme,
And rekened þe custome houses echoun,
At whych þey had gode, and at whyche noun;
Line 5584
Þere þey hadde gode, þey preysed weyl,
And þere þey hadde noght, neuer a deyl.
As þey spak of many what,
Comë Pers forþ yn þat [þayr.] gat: [wey]
Line 5588
Þan seyd echoun þat sate and stode,
'here comþ Pers, þat neuer dyd gode!'
Echoun seyd to oþer Iangland,
'Þey toke neuer gode at Pers hand;
Line 5592
Ne noun [no.] pore man neuer shal haue, [folio 37b:2]
Coude he neuer so weyl craue.'
One of hem began to sey
"A waiour dar y wyþ ȝow ley,
Line 5596
Þat y shal haue sum gode at [of.] hym,
Be he neuer so gryl ne grym."
To þat waiour þey graunted alle,
Line 5599
To ȝyue hym a ȝyft ȝyf so myȝt befalle.
