To clothen him the summer tide[1]:
I thought upon that other side,
How gold is cold, and such a cloth
By reason ought-e to be lothe[2]
In winter tim-e for the chiel.
And thus thinking thought-es fele[3]
As I mine eye about-e cast,
His larg-e beard-e then at last
I saw; and thought anon therefore
How that his father him before,
Which stood upon the sam-e place,
Was beardless, with a youngly face.
And in such wise, as ye have heard
I took away the son-nes beard,
For that his father had-e none,
To make him like; and hereupon
I ask for to be excused."
Lo, thus where sacrilege is used,
A man can feign his consciénce;
And right upon such evidénce
In lov-es cause if I shall treat,
There be of such-e small and great
If they no leisure find-e else,
They will not wend-e for the bells;
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