Lightliche Lyere Leep awey thanne, Lurkynge thorugh lanes, To-lugged of manye. He was nowher welcome, For his manye tales, Over al y-honted, And y-hote trusse, Til pardoners hadde pité, 1320 And pulled hym into house. They wesshen hym and wiped hym. And wounden hym in cloutes, And senten hym with seles On Sondayes to chirches, And yeven pardoun for pens Pounde-mele aboute. Thanne lourede leches, And lettres thei sente, That he sholde wonye with hem 1330 Watres to loke. Spycers speken with hym, To spien hire ware; For he kouthe of hir craft, And knewe manye gommes. And mynstrales and messagers Mette with hym ones, And helden hym an half-yeer And ellevene dayes. Freres with fair speche 1340 Fetten hym pennes, And for knowynge of comeres Coped hym as a frere; Ac he hath leve to lepen out, As ofte as hym liketh, {42} And is welcome whan he wile, And woneth with hem ofte. Alle fledden for fere, And flowen into hernes; Save Mede the mayde, 1350 Na-mo dorste abide. Ac trewely to telle, She trembled for drede, And ek wepte and wrong, Whan she was attached. 1355 * * * * * {43} _Passus Tertius de Visione, ut supra._ Now is Mede the mayde, 1356 And na-mo of hem alle, With bedeles and with baillies Brought bifore the kyng. The kyng called a clerk, 1360 Kan I noght his name, To take Mede the maide And maken hire at ese. "I shal assayen hire myself, And soothliche appose, What man of this moolde That hire were levest. And if she werche bi wit, And my wil folwe, I wol forgyven hire this gilt, 1370 So me God helpe!" Curteisly the clerk thanne, As the kyng highte, Took Mede bi the myddel And broghte hire into chambre; And ther was murthe and mynstralcie, Mede to plese. They that wonyeth in Westmynstre = Worshipeth hire alle, 1380 {44} Gentilliche with joye; The justices somme Busked hem to the bour Ther the burde dwellede, To conforten hire kyndely, By clergies leve; And seiden, "Mourne noght, Mede, Ne make thow no sorwe; For we wol wisse the kyng, And thi wey shape, 1390 To be wedded at thi wille, And wher thee leef liketh, For al Consciences cast Or craft, as I trowe." Mildely Mede thanne Merciede hem alle Of hire grete goodnesse, And gaf hem echone Coupes of clene gold, And coppes of silver, 1400 Rynges with rubies, And richesses manye; The leeste man of hire meynee A moton of golde. Than laughte thei leve Thise lordes at Mede.