Depe cun ȝe bouse, þat is al ȝure care,
Wiþ seint Benet is scurge lome ȝe disciplineþ.
Takeþ hed al to me!
Þat þis is sleche, ȝe mow wel se.
Hail be ȝe nonnes of seint Mari house,
Goddes bourmaidnes and his owen spouse!
Ofte mistrediþ ȝe ȝur schone, ȝur fete beþ ful tendre;
Daþeit þe sotter þat tawiþ ȝure leþir!
Swiþe wel ȝe vnderstode,
Þat makid þis ditee so gode.
Hail be ȝe prestis wiþ ȝur brode bokes!
Þoȝ ȝur crune be ischaue, fair beþ ȝur crokes.
Ȝow and oþer lewidmen deleþ bot ahouue;
Whan ȝe deliþ holibrede, ȝiue me botte a litil.
Sikirlich he was a clerk,
Þat wrochete [Ms. wroch'te] þis craftilich werke. [Ms. werk]
Hail be ȝe marchans wiþ ȝur gret packes [folio 8]
Of draperie, auoir-depeise, and ȝur wol sackes,
Gold, siluer, stones, riche markes and ek pundes!
Litil ȝiue ȝe þer of to þe wrech pouer.
Sleiȝ he was and ful of witte,
Þat þis lore put in writte.
Hail be ȝe tailurs wiþ ȝur [ȝure] scharpe schores! [sheres]
To mak wronge hodes, ȝe kittiþ lome gores.
Aȝens midwinter hote beþ ȝur neldes;
Þoȝ ȝur semes semiþ fair, hi lestiþ litil while.
Þe clerk þat þis baston wrowȝte,
Wel he woke and slepe riȝte nowȝte.
Hail be ȝe sutters [sutlers] wiþ ȝour mani lestes,
Wiþ ȝour blote hides of selcuþ bestis,
And trobles and treisuses, bochevampe and alles.
Blak and loþlich beþ ȝur teþ, hori was þat route.
Nis þis bastun wel ipiȝte?
Euch word him sitte ariȝte.
