000001 In a somer seson, whan softe was the sonne,
000002I shoop me into shroudes as I a sheep were,
000003In habite as an heremite unholy of werkes,
000004Wente wide in this world wondres to here.
000005Ac on a May morwenynge on Malverne hilles
000006Me bifel a ferly, of Fairye me thoghte.
000007I was wery forwandred and wente me to reste
000008Under a brood bank by a bourne syde;
000009And as I lay and lenede and loked on the watres,
000010I slombred into a slepyng, it sweyed so murye.
000011Thanne gan I meten a merveillous swevene--
000012That I was in a wildernesse, wiste I nevere where.
000013A[c] as I biheeld into the eest an heigh to the sonne,
000014I seigh a tour on a toft trieliche ymaked,
000015A deep dale bynethe, a dongeon therinne,
000016With depe diches and derke and dredfulle of sighte.
000017A fair feeld ful of folk fond I ther bitwene--
000018Of alle manere of men, the meene and the riche,
000019Werchynge and wandrynge as the world asketh.
000020Somme putten hem to th . . .
