| | Better than this sompnour knoweth a lechour | |
| | Or avoutrer or ellis ony Paramour | |
| | And for that was the fruyt of al his rent | |
| | Therfore on it he sette al his entent | |
| 75 | And so befyl that onys vp on a day | |
| | This sompnour was euer waytyng his pray | |
| | Forto sompne an olde wyf horrible | |
| | Feynynge a cause for he wolde her bridil | |
| | It happid that he saw beforn hym ryde | |
| 80 | Agay yeman vnder a forest syde | |
| | A bowe he baar and arowis brighte and kene | |
| | He hadde vpon hym a kirtil of grene | |
| | An hat vp on his hed with strengis blake | |
| | Sire quod the sompnour heyl and wel y take | |
| 85 | Welcome quod he and euery good felaw | |
| | Whithir ridist thou vnder this grene wode shaw | |
| | Sayde this yoman wolt thou fare with me to day | |
| | This sompnour answerde and sayde nay | |
| | Here faste by quod he is myn entent | |
| 90 | To riden forto reyse vp al the rent | |
| | That longith now to my lordis duete | |
| | Art thou than a baylle ye quod he | |
| | He ne durste for velonye and shame | |
| | Say that he was a sompnour for the name | |
| 95 | Deperdeux quod this sompnour dere brother | |
| | Thou art a baylle and I am another | |
| | I am vnknowen now in this contre | |
| | Of thyn acqueyntaunce thenne I pray the | |
| | And eek of bretherhed yf that thou list | |
