[Prologus.] [Prologus; not in any of the MSS.]
IN A somer sesun · whon softe was þe sonne, [folio 394b:2] [whon softe was þe sonne] as y south wente U.]
I schop me in-to a schroud · A scheep as I were; [into] vndur H; in U; to D. A scheep, &c.] as I a shep were TH UH2D.]
In Habite of an Hermite · vn-holy of werkes, [of] as TUH2D.]
Wende I wydene in þis world · wondres to here. [Wende I wydene] Wente wyde TH2D; I wente wide UH.]
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Bote in a Mayes Morwnynge · on Maluerne hulles
Me bi-fel a ferly · A Feyrie me þouhte; [A Feyrie] of fairie THUH2D.]
I was weori of wandringe · and wente me to reste [of wandring and] of-wandrit & T; forwandred H2, forwandryd y U; for wandryng & D.]
Vndur a brod banke · bi a Bourne syde,
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And as I lay and leonede · and lokede on þe watres, [leonede] lened me U.]
I slumberde in A slepyng · hit sownede so murie. [sownede] swiȝede T; swyed H2; schewed D. hit sownede] I swe|uenyd U.]
¶ Þenne gon I Meeten · A Meruelous sweuene,
Þat I was in A Wildernesse · wuste I neuer where, [wuste I] y wyste UH.]
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And as I beo-heold in-to þe Est · an-heiȝ to þe sonne, [And] Ac TD; H omits; But U. an heiȝ] up U.]
I sauh a Tour on A Toft · [triȝely] I-maket; [[triȝely T; triely U; tryelyche H2] wonderliche VH; trewliche D. imaket] a-tired U.]
A Deop Dale bi-neoþe · A dungun þer-Inne,
With deop dich and derk · and dredful of siht. [dich] dikes T; diches UH2. and dredful, &c.] þat dredeful was of syghte H.]
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