Oþer ymaymed þorw som myshap werby þow myȝt be excused?' 35
'Wanne ich ȝong was,' quath ich, 'meny ȝer hennes,
My fader and my frendes founden me to scole,
Tyl ich wiste wyterliche wat Holy Wryt menede,
And wat is best for þe body, as þe Bok telleþ,
And sykerest for þe soule, by so ich wolle continue. 40
And ȝut fond ich neuere, in faith, sytthen my frendes deyden,
Lyf þat me lyked, bote in þes longe clothes.
Hyf ich by laboure sholde lyue and lyflode deseruen,
That labour þat ich lerned best [þerwith] lyue ich sholde:—