| | Al were it yeuyn of the porest page | |
| | Or of the porest widow in a village | |
| | Al sholde her childryn sterue for famyn | |
| | Nay I wol drynke the licour of the wyn | |
| 125 | And haue a ioly wenche in euery toun | |
| | But herkeneth lordingis in conclusion | |
| | Your likyng is that I shal telle a tale | |
| | Now I haue dronke a draughte of corny ale | |
| | Be god I hope I shal telle you a thing | |
| 130 | That shal by reson be at your likynge | |
| | For though my self be a ful vicious man | |
| | Amoralle tale yet I you telle can | |
| | Whiche I am wont forto preche and also wynne | |
| | Now holde your pees my tale I wol begynne | |
| | I | N flaundris sumtyme was a company | |
| | Of yonge folk that hauntedyn foly | |
| | As ryot hazard Stewis and tauernys | |
| | And pleye the harlottis in many hernys | |
| | They daunce and pleye atte dyce both day & night | |
| 140 | And etyn and drynkyn a bouen her myght | |
| | Thorow whiche they doon the deuyl sacrifise | |
| | With ynne the deuyll tempil in cursid wyse | |
| | The superfluytees abhominabil | |
| | Here othis be so grete and dampnabil | |
| 145 | That it is grisly forto here hem swere | |
| | Our blissid lordis body they to tere | |
| | Hem thoughte the iewis rente hym not y nough | |
| | And eche of hem at othir synne lough | |
| | And right anone cam the Tomblesteris | |
