"And if thow wite nevere to whiche, Ne whom to restitue, 3070 Ber it to the bisshope, And bid hym of his grace Bi-sette it hymself, As best is for thi soule; For he shal answere for thee At the heighe dome, For thee and for many mo That man shal yeve a rekenyng, What he lerned yow in Lente, Leve thow noon oother, 3080 And what he lente yow of oure Lordes good To lette yow fro synne." Now bi-gynneth Gloton For to go to shrifte, And karieth hym to kirke-warde His coupe to shewe; And Beton the brewestere Bad hym good morwe, And asked at hym with that, Whider-ward he wolde. 3090 "To holy chirche," quod he, "For to here masse, And sithen I wole be shryven, And synne na-moore." "I have good ale, gossib," quod she, "Gloton, woltow assaye?" "Hastow ought in thi purs?" quod he, "Any hote spices?" "I have pepir and piones," quod she, "And a pound of garleek, 3100 And a ferthyng-worth of fenel-seed {96} For fastynge dayes." Thanne goth Glotin in, And grete othes after. Cesse the souteresse Sat on the benche; Watte the warner, And his wif bothe; Tymme the tynkere, And tweyne of his prentices; 3110 Hikke the hakeney-man, And Hughe the nedlere; Clarice of Cokkeslane, And the clerk of the chirche; Dawe the dykere, And a dozeyne othere. Sire Piers of Pridie, And Pernele of Flaundres; A ribibour, a ratoner, A rakiere of Chepe, 3120 A ropere, a redyng-kyng, And Rose the dyssheres; Godefray of Garlekhithe, And Griffyn the Walshe; And upholderes an heep, Erly by the morwe, Geve Gloton with glad chere Good ale to hanselle. Clement the Cobelere Caste of his cloke, 3130 And at the newe feire He nempned it to selle, Hikke the hakeney-man Hitte his hood after, And bad Bette the bocher {97} Ben on his syde. Ther were chapmen y-chose This chaffare to preise, That who so hadde the hood Sholde han amendes of the cloke. 3140 Two risen up in rape, And rouned togideres, And preised thise peny-worthes A-part by hemselve; Thei kouthe noght by hir conscience Acorden in truthe, Til Robyn the ropere Aroos by the southe, And nempned hym for a nounpere, That no debat nere. 3150 Hikke the hostiler Hadde the cloke, In covenaunt that Clement Sholde the cuppe fille, And have Hikkes hood hostiler, And holden hym y-served. And who so repented rathest Sholde aryse after, And greten sire Gloton With a galon ale. 3160