Thow that ȝe slynge Goddys curs
Evyn at myn hede, ffast com away.
Bothe Boutyng the Browstere, and Sybyly Slynge,
Megge Merywedyr and Sabyn Sprynge,
Tyffany Twynkelere, ffayle ffor nothynge,
The courte xal be this day.
Hic intrabit pagentum de purgatione Mariæ et Joseph. Hic dicit primus detractor,
A! A! serys, God save ȝow alle,
Here is a fayr pepyl in good ffay;
Good seres, telle me what men me calle,
I trowe ȝe kannot be this day;
ȝitt I walke wide and many way,
But ȝet ther I come I do no good,
To reyse slawdyr is al my lay,
Bakbytere is my brother of blood.
Dede he ought come hedyr in al this day,
Now wolde God that he were here!
And be my trewthe, I dare wel say,
That yf we tweyn togedyr apere,
More slawndyr we to xal arere,
Within an howre thorweouth this town,
Than evyr ther was this thowsand ȝere,
And ellys I shrewe ȝow bothe up and downe.
Now be my trewthe I have a syght
Evyn of my brother, lo! where he is:
Welcom, dere brother, my trowthe I plyght,
ȝowre jentyl mowth let me now kys.
Secundus detractor. Gramercy, brother, so have I blys,
I am ful glad we met this day.
Primus detractor. Ryght so am I, brothyr, i-wys,
Meche gladder than I kan say.
