| | A fewe termes hadde he two or thre | |
| 640 | That he hadde lerned of sum man of degre | |
| | No wondir is he herde it al the day | |
| | And eke ye knowe wel that a Iay | |
| | Can clepe watte as wel as the pope | |
| | But who coude hym in other thingis grope | |
| 645 | Than had he spent al his philosofie | |
| | A questio quid queris wolde he crye | |
| | He was a gentil harlot and a kynde | |
| | A better felow sholde noman fynde | |
| | He wolde suffre for a quart of wyn | |
| 650 | A good felow to haue his concubyn | |
| | A twelf monthe & excuse hym at the fulle | |
| | Ful pryuely a finche eke coude he pulle | |
| | And yf he fond owher a good felawe | |
| | He wolde teche hym anon to haue awe | |
| 655 | In suche caas of the archedekenes curs | |
| | But yf mannys soule were in his purs | |
| | For in his purs he sholde punysshyd be | |
| | Purs is the archedekenes helle sayde he | |
| | But wel I woot he lied in dede | |
| 660 | Of cursynge owght eche man to drede | |
| | For cursynge wil sle right as soyling saueth | |
| | And also ware hym of significaint | |
| | In daunger hadde he at his owen gise | |
| | Alle the yonge girlis of the diocyse | |
| 665 | And knew of hir counseil & was of her rede | |
| | A garlond he hadde set vp on his hede | |
| | As greet as it were an alestake | |
