aghast, That I will lettë for to do my things. I settë not a straw by thy dreamíngs, For swevens be but vanities and japes. Men dream all day of owlës and of apes, And eke of many a mazë therewithal; Men dream of thing that never was, nor shall. But since I see, that thou wilt here abide, And thus forslothë wilfully thy tide, God wot, it rueth me; and have good day.’ And thus he took his leave, and went his way. But, ere that he had half his coursë sail’d, I know not why, nor what mischance it ail’d, But casually the ship’s bottom rent, And ship and man under the water went, In sight of other shippës there beside That with him sailed at the samë tide.
“And therefore, fairë Partelote so dear, By such examples oldë may’st thou lear, That no man shouldë be too reckëless Of dreamës, for I say thee doubtëless, That many a dream full sore is for to dread. Lo, in the life of Saint Kenelm I read, That was Kenulphus’ son, the noble king Of Mercenrike, how Kenelm mette a thing. A little ere he was murder’d on a day, His murder in his visión he say. His norice him expounded every deal His sweven, and bade him to keep him well For treason; but he was but seven years old, And therefore little talë hath he told Of any dream, so holy was his heart. By God, I haddë lever than my shirt That ye had