These riotoúrës three, of which I tell, Long erst than 3599 primë rang of any bell, Were set them in a tavern for to drink; And as they sat, they heard a bellë clink Before a corpse, was carried to the grave. That one of them gan callë to his knave, 3600 “Go bet,” 3601 quoth he, “and askë readily What corpse is this, that passeth here forth by; And look that thou report his namë well.” “Sir,” quoth the boy, “it needeth never a deal; 3602 It was me told ere ye came here two hours; He was, pardie, an old fellów of yours, And suddenly he was y-slain tonight; Fordrunk 3603 as he sat on his bench upright, There came a privy thief, men clepë Death, That in this country all the people slay’th,