Schriue þe wele in word & þouȝt,
& þan þe þarf dout riȝt nouȝt
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Oȝaines þe foule fende.
Chirches & abbays þou miȝt make
Þat schal pray for þi sake
To him þat schope mankende:
Hastow no nede to go me fro,
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Saue þou miȝt þi soule fram wo
In joie wiþouten ende.'
¶ 'Leue leman,' þan seyd sir Gij,
'Lete ben alle þis reweful cri:
It is nouȝt worþ þi tale.
For mani a bern & kniȝt hardi
Ich haue y-sleyn, sikerly,
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& strued cites fale,
& for ich haue destrued mankin
Y schal walk for mi sinne
Barfot bi doun & dale.
Þat ich haue wiþ mi bodi wrouȝt
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Wiþ mi bodi it schal be bouȝt,
To bote me of þat bale.
¶ Leman,' he seyd, 'par charite,
Astow art boþe hende & fre,
O þing y þe pray:
Loke þou make no sorwe for me,
Bot hold þe stille astow may be
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Til to-morwe at day.
Gret wele þi fader, þat is so hende,
& þi moder, & al þi frende
Bi sond as y þe say.
Grete wele Herhaud, y þe biseche.
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Leman, god y þe biteche:
Y wil fare forþ in mi way.
