THE PISTILL OF SUSAN. VERNON MS.
I.
ÞER was in Babiloine a bern, in þat borw riche, [folio 317a] [I. Þer woned a berne in.]
Þat was a Ieuȝ ientil, and Ioachin he hiht;
He was so lele in his lawe, þer liued non him liche, [P. þer was none.]
Of alle riche þat renke arayes he was riht. [P. Of all ricchesses þat renke arayed was right. I. Of al þe ryches þat rayned arayed was he riht.]
His Innes and his orchardus were with a dep dich,
Line 5
Halles and herbergages, heiȝ vppon heiht; [I. hyly on hyht.]
To seche þoru þat cite þer nas non sich,
Of erbus and of erberi, so auenauntliche I-diht [P. Of arbres and herbes. I. Of erbes and of erbage so dernely dyht.]
Þat day,
Wiþ Inne the sercle of sees,
Line 10
Of Erberi and Alees, [P. Of arborye and aloes. I. Of erbes and of aleres.]
Of alle Maner of trees
Soþely to say.
II.
He hed a wif hiȝt Susan, was sotil and sage; [I was sotelest of sage.]
Heo was Elches douȝtur, eldest and eyre, [I. eldeste in ayre.]
Line 15
