Bote he be obediencer to pryour oþer to mynstre.' 95

'That ys soth,' ich seide 'and so ich byknowe

That ich haue tynt tyme, and tyme mysspended;

And ȝut, ich hope, as he þat ofte haueþ chaffared,

Þat ay hath lost and lost, and at þe [laste] hym happed

He bouhte suche a bargayn he was þe bet euere, 100

And sette hus lost at a lef at þe laste ende,

Suche a wynnynge hym warth þorw wyrdes of hus grace:—

Simile est regnum celorum thesauro abscondito in agro, et cetera;

Mulier que inuenit dragmam, et cetera;