Anonymous: Man in the Moon (341 words)

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page 127


1Mon in þe mone stond ant strit;
2On is bot-forke is burþen he bereþ.
3Hit is muche wonder þat he n'adoun slyt -
4For doute leste he valle he shoddreþ ant shereþ!
5When þe forst freseþ, muche chele he byd.
6Þe þornes beþ kene - is hattren totereþ.
7Nis no wyꝥ in þe world þat wot wen he syt,
8Ne (bote hit bue þe hegge) whet wedes he wereþ.

9

10Whider troweþ þis mon ha þe wey take?
11He haþ set is o fot is oþer toforen.
12For non hiꝥe þat he haþ ne syꝥ me hym ner shake -
13He is þe sloweste mon þat euer wes yboren.
14Wher he were o þe feld pycchynde stake,
15For hope of ys þornes to dutten is doren,
16He mot myd is twybyl oþer trous make,
17Oþer al is dayes werk þer were yloren.

18

19Þis ilke mon vpon heh when er he were,
20Wher he were y þe mone boren ant yfed,
21He leneþ on is forke ase a grey frere.
22Þis crokede caynard sore he is adred!
23Hit is mony day go þat he was here.
24Ichot of is ernde he naþ nout ysped:
25He haþ hewe sumwher a burþen of brere -
26Þarefore sum hayward haþ taken ys wed.

27

28'Ȝef þy wed ys ytake, bring hom þe trous!
29Sete forþ þyn oþer fot, stryd ouer sty!
30We shule preye þe haywart hom to vr hous
31Ant maken hym at heyse for þe maystry -

page 128


32Drynke to hym deorly of fol god bous,
33Ant oure dame Douse shal sitten hym by.
34When þat he is dronke ase a dreynt mous,
35þenne we schule borewe þe wed ate bayly.'

36

37Þis mon hereþ me nout, þah Ich to hym crye;
38Ichot þe cherl is def - þe del hym todrawe!
39Þah Ich ȝeȝe vpon heþ nulle nout hye -
40Þe lostlase ladde con nout o lawe.
41Hupe forþ, Hubert, hosede pye!
42Ichot þart amarscled into þe mawe.
43Þah me teone wiþ hym þat myn teh mye,
44Þe cherld nul nout adoun er þe day dawe.