If Symonie may mete wid him he wole shaken his berd.
Voiz of clerk is sielde i-herd at the court of Rome;
Ne were he nevere swich a clerk, silverles if he come, 20
Thouh he were the wiseste that evere was i-born,
But if he swete ar he go, al his weye is lorn
i-souht,
Or he shal singe si dedero, or al geineth him noht.
For if there be in countre an horeling, a shrewe,
Lat him come to the court hise nedes for to shewe,
Glossary.—4. wolen, will (pl.). muwen, may.—5. skile, cause, reason.—6. nelle liȝen, will not lie.—7. theih, they.—10. paleis, palace.—11. doute, fear.—12. clepe, call.—13. han, have (pl.). red, counsel.—19. voiz, voice. sielde i-herd, seldom heard.—20. swich, such.—22. ar, before.