Yn hys redyng, none wyst why,
he logh a grete laghter an hy.
Þe preste, and oþer þat þere stode,
helde hym a fole, þat coude no gode.
Line 9268
Seþþë, whan þe messe was done,
Þe preste asked þe dekene sone,
'why þat he so ferde, and how
þat he, yn hys gospel, logh?' [low.]
Line 9272
Moche þarfore he gan hym blame,
For þe lewed folk þoght hyt [hym.] shame.
Þe dekene told hym why hyt fel
þere to laghe [laghhe.] yn hys gospel:
Line 9276
"As y redde þat ychë tyde,
Twey wymmen Iangled þere besyde;
Betwyx hem to, [two.] y say [saghe.] a fende
with penne and parchëmen yn honde,
Line 9280
And, wrote alle þat euer þey spake,
Pryuyly be-hynde here bake.
whan hys rolle was wryte alle ful,
To drawe hyt oute he gan to pul;
Line 9284
with hys teþe he gan to drawe,
And hardë for to tugge and gnawe,
Þat hys rolle to-braste and rofe; [folio 62a]
And hys hede aȝens þe walle drofe
Line 9288
Só hard, and so ferly sore,
Whan hys parchemen was no more.
whan y say þat, y lete so gode,
Y brast on laghter þere y stode,
Line 9292
Þat he so mochë sorow hadde,
As hys wrytyng was alle to-fade;
And when he parceyued þat y wyste,
He al to-drofe hyt with hys fyste,
Line 9296
And went a-wey, alle for shame;
þarfore y logh and hadde gode game."
Þe prest hym asked 'whedyr he say mo.'
"Many," he seyd, "y sagh þere go,
Line 9300
And wrote oueral þere men tolde,
But none so moche þat y dyde beholde;
Hym behelde y weyl ynogh,
