XXX.

Then she takes her leave.

Thenne lachcheȝ ho hir leue, & leueȝ hym þere,

For more myrþe of þat mon moȝt ho not gete;

When ho1 watȝ gon, sir G. gereȝ hym sone,

Rises, & riches hym in araye noble,

Lays vp þe luf-lace, þe lady hym raȝt,

Hid hit ful holdely, þer he hit eft fonde;

Syþen cheuely to þe chapel choses he þe waye,

Preuely aproched to a prest, & prayed hym þere

Þat he wolde lyfte2 his lyf, & lern hym better,

How his sawle schulde be saued, when he schuld seye heþen.

Þere he schrof hym schyrly, & schewed his mysdedeȝ,

Of þe more & þe mynne, & merci besecheȝ,

& of absolucioun he on þe segge calles;

& he asoyled hym surely, & sette hym so clene,

As domeȝ-day schulde haf ben diȝt on þe morn.

& syþen he mace hym as mery among þe fre ladyes,

With comlych caroles, & alle kynnes ioye,

As neuer he did bot þat daye, to þe derk nyȝt,

with blys;

Vche mon hade daynte þare,

Of hym, & sayde Iwysse,

Þus myry he watȝ neuer are,

Syn he com hider, er þis.

1 he, in MS. 2 lyste (?).