An oþer abbei is þer bi,
For soþ a gret fair nunnerie,
Vp a riuer of swet milke, [folio 6]
Whar is plente gret [grete] of silk.
Line 150
Whan þe somer is dai is hote,
Þe ȝung nunnes takiþ a bote
And doþ ham forþ in þat riuer,
Boþe wiþ oris and wiþ stere.
Whan [When] hi beþ fur fram [from] þe abbei,
Line 155
Hi makiþ ham nakid forto plei
And lepiþ dune in to þe brimme
And doþ ham sleilich forto swimme.
Þe ȝung monkeþ, þat hi seeþ,
Hi doþ ham vp, and forþ hi fleeþ
Line 160
And commiþ to þe nunnes anon,
And euch monke him takeþ on,
And snellich berriþ [berith] forþ har prei
To þe mochil grei abbei,
And techiþ þe nunnes an oreisun
Line 165
Wiþ iambleue vp and dun.
Þe monke þat wol be stalun gode
And kan set ariȝt is hode,
He schal hab wiþ oute [wiþute] danger
.XII. wiues euche ȝere,
Line 170
Al þroȝ riȝt and noȝt þroȝ grace
For to do him silf solace.
And þilk monke [monk] þat slepiþ [clepiþ] best [folio 6b]
And doþ is [his] likam al to rest,
Of him is hoppe, god hit wote,
Line 175
To be sone uadir abbot.
Whose wl com þat lond to,
Ful grete penance he mot do:
Seue ȝere in swine is dritte.
He mote [mot] wade, wol ȝe iwitte,
Line 180
Al anon vp to þe chynne,
So he schal þe lond winne.
Lordinges gode and hend,
