And happen’d so, they came into a town Where there was such a congregatioún Of people, and eke so strait of herbergage, 4304 That they found not as much as one cottáge In which they bothë might y-lodged be: Wherefore they musten of necessity, As for that night, departë company; And each of them went to his hostelry, 4305 And took his lodging as it wouldë fall. The one of them was lodged in a stall, Far in a yard, with oxen of the plough; That other man was lodged well enow, As was his áventúre, or his fortúne, That us govérneth all, as in commúne. And so befell, that, long ere it were day, This man mette 4306 in his bed, there as he lay, How that his fellow gan upon him call, And said, ‘Alas! for in an ox’s stall This night shall I be murder’d, where I lie. Now help me, dearë brother, or I die;