'Myn owne erthly lady,' quod I tho, 'and yet remembre to your worthinesse how long sithen, by many revolving of yeres, in tyme whan Octobre his leve ginneth take and Novembre 30 sheweth him to sight, whan bernes ben ful of goodes as is the nutte on every halke; and than good lond-tillers ginne shape for the erthe with greet travayle, to bringe forth more corn to mannes sustenaunce, ayenst the nexte yeres folowing. In suche tyme of plentee he that hath an home and is wyse, list not to 35 wander mervayles to seche, but he be constrayned or excited. Oft the lothe thing is doon, by excitacion of other mannes opinion, whiche wolden fayne have myn abydinge. [Tho gan I] take in herte of luste to travayle and see the wynding of the erthe in that tyme of winter. By woodes that large stretes wern in, 40 by smale pathes that swyn and hogges hadden made, as lanes with ladels their maste to seche, I walked thinkinge alone a wonder greet whyle; and the grete beestes that the woode haunten and adorneth al maner forestes, and heerdes gonne to wilde. Than, er I was war, I neyghed to a see-banke; and for 45 ferde of the beestes "shipcraft" I cryde. For, lady, I trowe ye wete wel your-selfe, nothing is werse than the beestes that shulden ben tame, if they cacche her wildenesse, and ginne ayen waxe ramage. Thus forsothe was I a-ferd, and to shippe me hyed. 50