"Releuynge me off my distresse."
I took there-off greet hardynesse,
Line 19400
Made as tho [[thow St.]] no lenger lette,
I spared nowther hook nor nette,
But, trustynge (in conclusyoun)
Vp-on my skrippe and my burdoun,
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And there-vp-on I bylened [[lened St.]] me
Whanne I entryd in-to the see;
And, in swymmynge to be more stable, [Tib folio 58a]
Me thought my skryppë proffitable
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To kepe me sure in herte and thought,
In my way, that I errëd nought. [[Illustration.]]
TRewely, [[yet truly St.]] in this dredefful see,
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Is [[om. St.]] greet myscheeff and aduersyte:
Many a perel (I ȝou ensure,)
And many a straungë áventure
I ffeltë tho in my passage,
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Off wawys and off [[of St., om. Tib.]] rokkis rage, [Stowe folio 325b]
And many a tempeste (in certeyn)
Off thondrynge, lyghtnynge, and off reyn,
And other perels that be-ffelle,
That, ȝeue I schulde hem allë telle,
Line 19420
Or the myschévës alle endyte,
They were to longë for [[for St., om. Tib.]] to wryte.
But while that I, in my passáge,
Byheelde the see, sterne and saváge,
Line 19424
Me thought I sawe bysydë me,
That there stood a greenë tre;
And I was glad alle [[of St.]] thilkë while,
Wenynge there hadde ben an yle,
Line 19428
In hopë that I schuldë londe,
Hastely, vp at som stronde,
Whiche was to me fful greet plesaunce. [Tib folio 58b]
And as I gan my silffe avaunce,
Line 19432
And thederward gan ffastë hye,
Anoon my sylffe I dyde aspye
(Whanne that I gan lokë wel)
That I was caste vp-on a whel,
Line 19436
Off whiche to-fforne I sawgh no thynge;
