Or elles benes and bren ybaken togideres, 175
Or elles melke and mene ale;' þus preyed Pieres for hem.
Faitoures for fere herof flowen into bernes,
And flapten on with flayles fram morwe til euen,
That Hunger was nouȝt so hardy on hem for to loke,
For a potful of peses þat Peres hadde ymaked.180
An heep of heremites henten hem spades,
And ketten here copes, and courtpies hem made,
And wenten as werkemen with spades and with schoueles,
And doluen and dykeden to dryue aweye Hunger.