Ac yf the merchaunt make hus way · overe menne corne,
And the haywarde happe · with hym for to mete,
Other hus hatt, other hus hode · othere elles hus gloves
The marchaunt mot for-go · other moneye of hus porse . . .
Yut thauh thei wenden on way · as to Wynchestre fayre,
The marchaunt with hus marchaundise · may nat go so swithe
As the messager may · ne with so mochel ese.
For that on (one) bereth bote a boxe · a brevet (letter) ther-ynne,
Ther the marchaunt ledeth a male (trunk) · with meny kynne thynges,
And dredeth to be ded there-fore · and (if) he in derke mete