Incipit liber de Petro Plowman.
[Prologus.] [OBS. L=MS. Laud 581; W=MS. printed by Wright; O=MS. Oriel; R=MS. Rawlinson; C=Camb. MS. Dd. 1. 17; C2=Camb. MS. Ll. 4. 14. Readings from the last of these are given only occasionally.]
In a somer seson · whan soft was the sonne, [A page 1] [L folio 1]
I shope me in shroudes · as I a shepe were, [in] into W. shepe] sheep W; scheep C2; but C has schepe (with a final e).]
In habite as an heremite · vnholy of workes,
Went wyde in þis world · wondres to here.
Line 4
Ac on a May mornynge · on Maluerne hulles [Ac] And CC2.]
Me byfel a ferly · of fairy me thouȝte;
I was wery forwandred · and went me to reste
Vnder a brode banke · bi a bornes side,
Line 8
And as I lay and lened · and loked in þe wateres, [in] on W.]
I slombred in a slepyng · it sweyued so merye. [in] in-to W. sweyued] sweyed W.]
¶ Thanne gan I to meten · a merueilouse sweuene, [to] so in W (but not printed).]
That I was in a wildernesse · wist I neuer where, [a] WO om.]
Line 12
As I bihelde in-to þe est · an hiegh to þe sonne, [As] And as W; And C. an hiegh] on hyȝ O; on hie C2.]
I seigh a toure on a toft · trielich ymaked; [seigh] sawȝ O. trielich] rie|liche (with t erased) C; triedliche O.]
A depe dale binethe · a dongeon þere-Inne,
With depe dyches & derke · and dredful of sight.
Line 16
