Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/151

But ȝitt, good brother, I ȝow pray,
  Telle alle these pepyl what is ȝour name;
ffor yf thei knew it, my lyf I lay,
  They wole ȝow wurchep and speke gret fame.
Secundus detractor. I am Bakbytere, that spyllyth alle game,
  Bothe kyd and knowyn in many a place.
Primus detractor. Be my trowth I seyd the same,
  And ȝet sum seyden thou xulde have evyl grace.
Secundus detractor. Herk, Reyse-sclaundyr, canst thou owth telle
  Of any newe thynge that wrought was late?
Primus detractor. Within a shorte whyle a thynge befelle,
  I trowe thou wylt lawhȝ ryght wel therate,
ffor be trowth, ryght mekyl hate,
  If it be wyst, therof wyl growe.
Secundus detractor. If I may reyse therwith debate,
  I xal not spare the seyd to sowe.
Primus detractor. Syr, in the tempyl a mayd ther was,
  Calde mayd Mary, the trewth to telle;
Sche semyd so holy withinne that plas,
  Men seyd sche was ffedde with holy aungelle.
Sche made a vow with man nevyr to melle,
  But to leve chast and clene virgine;
How evyr it be her wombe doth swelle,
  And is as gret as thinne or myne.
Secundus detractor. ȝa! that old shrewe Joseph, my trowth I plyght,
  Was so anameryd upon that mayd,
That of hyr bewtyé, whan he had syght,
  He sesyd nat tylle had here asayd.
Primus detractor. A! nay, nay, wel wers she hath hym payd,
  Sum fresche ȝonge galaunt she lovyth wel more,
That his leggys to here hath leyd,
  And that doth greve the old man sore.