[68]

Braced so straytly th[at h]e[1] may not plie,
[Sidenote 1:  MS. the.]
  But gaderith hit in by man_er_ of wyndlese,
And 3*if he wrenche aside or lytil wrye, 472
  His gere stonte all in pertous[2] case,
[Sidenote 2:  Read perlous?]
  The scho, the hose, the point, doublet, and lace;
    And if ought breke, som_m_e thing_es_[3] that ben badde
[Sidenote 3:  Read toung_es_.]
    Shall sey anon, ‘a knaue hath broke a ladde.’ 476

[Sidenote:  _ Hill’s Text._]

P) Wynter & somer to his soverayn_e_
    Capron hardy, no bonet lyst to avayle, 457
  For eu_er_y worde geveyng his mayst_er_ twayn_e_,
    avavntp_ar_ler In eu_er_y manys tale,
    Absolon w_i_t_h_ disheveld heres smale, 460
      lyke to a prysoner of saynt malowes,
      A sonny busshe able to the galowes.

P) O!  I passe nortvre! fy, fy, for sham! 
    I myght haue said he shuld go havke & honte, 464
  ffor that shuld be a gentylman[i]s game,
    To suche dysport_is_ gentill[e] folk_is_ be wonte;
    I sayd to ferre, my langage was but blonte;
      but yet, sir gallavnt, wha_n_ ye shall[e] bowe or knele 468
      he got[=h] by co_m_passe rovnd as doth a whele.

P) Brased so streyte [th]at he may not plye,
    but gaderyth yt by maner_e_ of a wyndlas;
  & he awght wrench a-side, or a litill[e] wrye, 472
    hys gere stondyt[=h] the_m_ i_n_ full[e] p_ar_lovs caas,
    hys sho / his hose / doblet, poynt & laas;
      & yff owght breke, su_m_ tonges that be bade
      will[e] moke & say, “A knave hath broke a lade.” 476

CAXTON’S TEXT.

[66]

Wynter and somer to his souereyne
Capron hardy / no bonet lyste to auale
[Sidenote:  not doffing his cap to his master,]
For euery word / gyui_n_g his maister tweyne 458
Auauntparler / in euery mannys tale
[Sidenote:  forward in speech,]
Absolon with disheueld heeris smale
[Sidenote:  rough-haired,]
Lyke to a prysoner of seynt malowis
[Sidenote:  and lousy-headed,]
A sonny busshe / able to go to the galowis 462

[67]

O I passe norture fy fy for shame
[Sidenote:  (though it’s hardly good manners to say so.)]
I myght haue said he shold go hauke & honte
For that shold be a gentilmans game 465
To such disportes / gentil folkes be wonte
I sayd to ferre / my langage was to blonte
But yet sir gala_n_te wha_n_ ye shal bowe or knele
[Sidenote:  When he tries to kneel, he works round like a wheel,]
He goth by compace round as doth a whele 469

[68]

[Sidenote:  Leaf 12 a.]