Passus tercius de visione
Now is Mede the maide and na ma of hem alle Now is Meed the Maid and no more of them all,
With bedelles and with baillifs brought bifore the kyng With beadles and bailiffs brought before the king.
The kyng called a clerc kan I naught his name The king called a clerk (I know not his name)
To take mede the maide and make hir at ese To take Meed the Maid and make her at ease.
I shal assaie hir my-self and sotheliche appose 'I shall try her myself and truly inquire
What man of molde that hir were leuest What man of this earth is dearest to her.
And if sho worche by my wit and my wille folwe And if she works by my wisdom and my will follows
I wole for-gyue hir this gilte so me god help I will forgive her this guilt so me God help!'

Curteisliche the clerc as the kyng hight Courteously the clerk then as the king ordered,
Toke mede by the Midel and brought hir in-to chambre Took Meed by the middle and brought her indoors,
And thare was mirthe and mynstralcye Mede to plese And there was mirth and mistrelsy Meed to please.
Thay that wonyeth in westmynstre worschiped hir alleThey that harboured in Westminster honoured her all;
Gentiliche with Joie the Justices somme And gently with joy of the justices some,
Busked hem to the boure ther the birde dwelled Betook them to the bower where the bride dwelled
To conforte hir kyndly by clergies leue To comfort her kindly with learning's leave;
And saiden morne nouhte Mede ne make thow no sorwe And said: 'Mourn not thou Meed nor make no ,
ffor we wisse the kyng and thy way schape For we will counsel the king and thy way shape       [sorrow
To be wedded at thy wille and wher the leue liketh To be wedded at thy will and where thy love liketh,
ffor al conscience caste or craft as I trowe For all Conscience's care or craft, as I trow.'

Mildeliche Mede thanne Mercied hem alle Mildly Meed then thanked them all
Of thayr grete goodnesse and gaf hem echone For their great goodness and gave them each one
Coupes of clene gold and coppis of siluer Cups of clean gold and cups of silver,
Rynges with rubies and riches manye Rings also with rubies and rich things many,
The leste man of hir meynge a moton of golde The least men of her train money of gold.
Thanne laughte they leue thise lordes at mede Then took they their leave these lords, of Meed.
With that comen clerkes to conforte hir the same With that came clerks to comfort her too
And biden hir be blithe for we beth thy owene And bade her be blithe 'for we be thine own
ffor to wirche thy wille the while thow myght laste For to work thy will so long as thou last.'
Hendeliche sho thanne bihyghte hem the same Prettily she then promised them the same,
To loue hem lealy and lordes to make To 'love you loyally and lords to make,

And in the consitore atte Courte do calle youre names And in consistory of the court to call out your names;
Schal no lewednesse lette the leode that I louye Lack of wit shall not hinder the man that I love
That he ne worth first auanced for I am biknowen That he be well advanced for I am known
Ther konnyng clerkes schul clokke bihynde Where learned clerks shall be left behind.'
Thane come ther a confessour caped as a frere Then came there a confessor clothed as a friar;
To mede the maide he melled this wordes To Meed the Maid he muttered these words
And saide ful softly In schrifte as it were And said full softly in shrift as it were:                                 [both
Thewe lewed men and lered men had layn by the bothe 'Though ignorant men and learned had lain by thee
And falsnesse haued yfolwed the al this fifty wynter And Falseness had followed thee these fifty winters,
I shal assoile the my-self for a seme of whete I shall absolve thee myself for a horse-load of wheat,
And also by thy bedman and ber wel thy message Also be thy bedesman and bear well thy message
Amonges knyghtes and clerkes consience to torne Amongst knights and clerks Conscience to turn.'
Thanne Mede ffor hir mysdedes to that man kneled Then Meed for her misdeeds to that man kneeled,
And schroue hir of hir shrewednesse shameles I trowe And shrove her of her sinfulness shamelessly, I trow

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