I sawh, & by hyr contenaunce,
A womman (as by lyklynesse)
But off lytel bysynesse,
Line 11256
By hyr labour, ouht to wynne:
Hyr lyst nat cardë nouther spynne,
Nor, to getyn hyr dyspence,
Do no maner dyllygence. [[off dyllygence St.]]
On whos ryht hand I sawh on sytte
Sobyrly, & lyst nat fflytte,
But kept hym covert in the shade;
And oldë nattys ageyn he made,
Line 11264
Wych, ffor no labour woldë spare,
But besy was hem to repare; [folio 173b]
And off hym thus stood the caas.
fful gretly I astonyd was,
Line 11268
Thynkynge hys labour was in [[in St., hole in C.]] veyn;
He made, & hem vnmade ageyn; [Stowe folio 199a]
Wher-in me sempte a ful gret lak:
And ffyrst off al, to hym I spak:
Line 11272
The pylgrym:
"My ffrend," quod I, "a-noon ryht here
I pray the that thow wost me lere
The bestë weye, & most certeyne,
Off thys ilkë weyës tweyne
Line 11276
Wych that lyen a-for my fface;
ffor neuere yet I dydë pace
By noon off hem, in al my lyff;
Wherffor tel me (& mak no stryff)
Line 11280
Wych ys the beste & most certeyn."
The Natte-makere:
The natte-makere answerde ageyn:
'Whyder castestow (in thy syht)
ffor to holde thy weyë ryht?'
Line 11284
The pylgrym:
"Syker," quod I, "now herkne me
I woldë passe the gretë se,
And oversaylle the saltë strem,
To kome vn-to Ierusalem;
Line 11288
Off wych cyte, told longe aforn,
The bysshop was off maydë born."
