þis yonge mañ was glad / & louyd with me to talke,
he prayed þat he myȝt withe me goo / in to som herne[5] or halke[6];
þis yonge mañ frayned[7] / with hoom þat he wonned þañ,
“So god me socoure,” he said / “Sir, y serue myself / & els nooñ oþer mañ.”
“is þy gouernaunce good?” y said, / “soñ, say me ȝiff þow cañ.”
“y wold y were owt of þis world” / seid he / “y ne rouȝt how sone whañ.”
“Sey nought so, good soñ, beware / me thynkethe þow menyst amysse;
for god forbedithe wanhope, for þat a horrible synne ys,
þerfore Soñ, opeñ thyñ hert / for peraveñture y cowd the lis[8];
“wheñ bale is hext / þañ bote is next” / good sone, lerne welle þis.”