With Hendy Nicholas and Alisoún. They told to every man that he was wood; 1181 He was aghastë 1182 so of Noë’s flood, Through phantasy, that of his vanity He had y-bought him kneading-tubbës three, And had them hanged in the roof above; And that he prayed them for Goddë’s love To sitten in the roof for company. The folk gan laughen at his phantasy. Into the roof they kyken, 1183 and they gape, And turned all his harm into a jape. 1184 For whatsoe’er this carpenter answér’d, It was for nought, no man his reason heard. With oathës great he was so sworn adown, That he was holden wood in all the town. For every clerk anon right held with other; They said, “The man was wood, my levë 1185