DCCXXIV.
Solitudo. Solitudinem multi propter deum
appetunt.
We rede in 'Vitis Patrum' how on a tyme a solitarie went into wyldernes, & he was cled̛ aƚƚ in a lyn̛ sakk̘ alone. And when̛ he had walkid̛ þerin iij dayes, he stude vp̛ apon̛ a grete stone, and he was war vndernethe it of a man̛ fedand̛ hym̛ of grene herbis as it had bene a beste. And he went down̛ privalie & gatt hym̛ & held̛ hym̛, and þis olde man̛ was nakid̛ & myght not suffre þe odur of a man̛, and gatt fro hym̛ & ran̛ away als faste as he myght. And þe toder ran after hym̛ & cryed̛; "Abyde, & lat me speke with þe!" So he abade & spak with hym̛ [MS. repeats, and he abayde.] , and when̛ þai come nere samen, þe olde man̛ bade & askid̛ hym̛ whatt he wolde. And he sayd̛; "Fadur, I pray þe, teƚƚ me a wurd̛ at I may be savid̛ bye!" And he ansswerd̛ hym̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛; "Fle mans felowschupp̛ & be stiƚƚ, & þou saƚƚ be safe."
- ...Solitudo quietem anime et consciencie facit. Supra de quiete, i.