And was passed þat synful pas, [folio 81a:2]
As þys man come outë þere,
Þe fende loked aboute euery-where,
Line 12204
And coude nat fynde hym, for no nede,
Among þe ouþer, þere þey ȝede;
Þe syȝtë of hym hadde he [he O, hym H.] lore,
Al þogh he ȝede next hym byfore.
Line 12208
Long loked þat foulë wyght,
And coude nat se hym with no syȝt;
He stode stylle tyl alle men were goun,
But syȝtë of hym hadde he noun.
Line 12212
Þys holy ermyte to hym ȝede:
"Treytur," he seyd, "for what nede
Stanst þou here; telle hyt me,
Yn Goddys name, y cóniure þe."
Line 12216
Þan answered þat glotoun,
"y abyde here my prysoun,
Þat long haþ be vndyr my [myn.] hande,
Line 12219
And haue led hym aboute with þys bande;
Langer wente he yn fro me,
He come nat oute ȝyt, þat y coude [may.] se;
Among many, y haue hym soȝte;
Line 12223
Me þenkeþ [þynke.] wundyr, y fynde hym noȝte."
Þys ermyte hyed fast and ran,
And ouertoke þys ychë man,
And, preyd hym a stounde to dwelle,
And of hys lyfe, sumwhat to telle:
Line 12228
"Y graunte," he seyd, "to þe to seye.
To þe cherche, as y wente my weye
y felte me charged yn a synne,—
And, long had y leye þere-ynne,—
Line 12232
y þoȝte y wulde me þer-of shryue,
And amende þe trespas yn my lyue.
At þe cherche, y shroue me weyl,
Line 12236
Plenerly of euery deyl;
