Gisen, For that a horse of his was drowned therein, When that he wentë Babylon to win: He madë that the river was so small, That women mightë wade it over all. Lo, what said he, that so well teachë can, ‘Be thou no fellow to an irous man, Nor with no wood man walkë by the way, Lest thee repent;’ I will no farther say.
“Now, Thomas, levë brother, leave thine ire, Thou shalt me find as just as is as squire; Hold not the devil’s knife aye at thine heart; Thine anger doth thee all too sorë smart; But shew to me all thy confessión.” “Nay,” quoth the sickë man, “by Saint Simón I have been shriven this day of my curáte; I have him told all wholly mine estate. Needeth no more to speak of it, saith he, But if me list of mine humility.” “Give me then of thy good to make our cloister,” Quoth he, “for many a mussel and many an oyster, When other men have been full well at ease, Hath been our food, our cloister for to rese: And yet, God wot, unneth the foundement Performed is, nor of our pavëment Is not a tilë yet within our wones: By God, we owë forty pound for stones. Now help, Thomas, for him that harrow’d hell, For ellës must we ourë bookës sell, And if ye lack our predicatión, Then goes this world all to destructión. For whoso from this world would us bereave, So God me save, Thomas, by your leave, He would bereave out of this world the sun. For who can teach and worken as we conne? And that is not of little time (quoth he), But since Elijah was, and Elisée, Have friars been, that find I of record, In charity, y-thanked be our Lord. Now, Thomas, help for saintë charity.” And down anon he set him on his knee.
The sick man waxed well nigh wood for ire, He wouldë that the friar had been afire With his falsë dissimulatión. “Such thing as is in my possessión,” Quoth he, “that may I give you and none other: Ye say me thus, how that I am your brother.” “Yea, certes,” quoth this friar, “yea, trustë well; I took our Dame the letter of our seal” “Now well,” quoth he, “and somewhat shall I give Unto your holy convent while I live; And in thine hand thou shalt it have anon, On this conditión, and other