Piers Plowman - Maybe You Like It

Passus Three
3.001: Now is Mede the mayde and no mo of hem alle,
3.002: With bedeles and baillies brought bifore the Kyng.
3.003: The Kyng called a clerk — l kan noght his name —
3.004: To take Mede the maide and maken hire at ese.
3.005: I shal assayen hire myself and soothliche appose
3.006: What man of this world that hire were levest.
3.007: And if she werche bi wit and my wil folwe
3.008: I wol forgyven hire this gilt, so me God helpe!'
3.009: Curteisly the clerk thanne, as the Kyng highte,
3.010: Took Mede bi the myddel and broghte hire into chambre.
3.011: Ac ther was murthe and mynstralcie Mede to plese;
3.012: That wonyeth at Westmynstre worshipeth hire alle.
3.013: Gentilliche with joye the justices somme
3.014: Busked hem to the bour ther the burde dwellede,
3.015: Conforted hyre kyndely by Clergies leve,
3.016: And seiden, " Mourne noght, Mede, ne make thow no sorwe,
3.017: For we wol wisse the Kyng and thi wey shape
3.018: To be wedded at thi wille and wher thee leef liketh
3.019: For al Conscienees cast or craft, as I trowe.'
3.020: Mildely Mede thanne merciede hem alle
3.021: Of hire grete goodnesse — and gaf hem echone
3.022: Coupes of clene gold and coppes of silver,
3.023: Rynges with rubies and richesses manye,
3.024: The Ieeste man of hire meynee a moton of golde.
3.025: Thanne laughte thei leve thise lordes at Mede.
3.026: With that comenclerkes to conforten hire the same,
3.027: And beden hire be blithe — "For we beth thyne owene
3.028: For to werche thi wille the while thow myght laste.'
3.029: Hendiliche heo thanne bihighte hem the same —
3.030: To loven hem lelly and lordes to make,
3.031: And in the consistorie at the court do callen hire names.
3.032: " Shal no lewednesse lette the clerke that I lovye,
3.033: That he ne worth first avaunced for I am biknowen
3.034: Ther konnynge clerkes shul clokke bihynde.'
3.035: Thanne cam ther a confessour coped as a frere;
3.036: To Mede the mayde [mekeliche he loutede]
3.037: And seide ful softely, in shrift as it were,
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