And in the myddes of the flore wrought
for there was a A wondyr strange gyle, 93
trapdoor in the A trapdoure rounde abowte
[leaf 179, back] That no man myght come yn nor owte;
middle, It was made wyth a wyle, 96
and if any one That who-so touchyd yt eny thyng, THE WRIGHT
only touched it, In to þe pytt he schuld flyng GOES TO
down he'd go into Wythyn a lytylÌ´lÌ´ whyle. WORK, AND 99
a pit. For hys wyfe he made that place, LEAVES HIS
This was to stop That no man schuld beseke her of grace, WIFE AT
any tricks with Nor her to begyle. HOME. 102
his wife.
Just then the town By þat tyme þe lord of the towne
Lord Hadde ordeynyd tymbyr redy bowne,
An halle to make of tre. 105
sends for him to Aft_er_ the wryght the lord lett sende,
build a Hall, For þat he schuld wyth hym lende
(a job for two or Monythys two or thre. 108
three months,) The lord seyd, "woult þou haue þi wyfe?
and offers to I wylÌ´lÌ´ send aft_er_ her blyve
fetch his wife That sche may com to the." 111
too. The wryght hys garlond hadde take w_y_t_h_ hy{m~},
That was bryght and no þing dymme,
Yt wes feyre on to see. 114
He sees the The lord axyd hym as he satt,
wright's garland, "Felowe, where hadyst þou þis hatte
and asks what it That ys so feyre and newe?" 117
means. The wryght answerd alÌ´lÌ´ so blyue,
"Sir, it will And seyd, "syr, I hadde yt wyth my wyfe,
And þat dare me neuer̛ rewe; 120