_Sens._ Yea, as any that ever was bygone Sith the world stood.
_Man._ Be they close nuns as other be? _Sens._ Close, quod a? nay, nay, parde! That guise were not good-- Ye must beware of that gere! Nay, all is open that they do there; As open as a goose eye!
_Man._ And cometh any man into their cells?
_Sens._ Yea, yea, God forbid else! It is free for everybody; And, beside all this, they be _Ex omni gente cognite_. No nation they forsake; Without it be beggars, going by the way, That have never a penny to pay For that that they do take. And yet can I beggars thither lead Where they shall, for lumps of bread, Satisfy their desire: Such drabs some there be That require none other fee, Not yet any other hire.
_Man._ Be they not wedded, as other folk be?
_Sens._ Wedded, quod a? no, so mot I thee! They will not tarry therefore; They can wed themselves alone. "Come kiss me, John;" "Gramercy, Joan!" Thus wed they evermore. And it is the more to commend; For, if the woman hap to offend, As it is their guise, A man may let her alone with sorrow And wed another whore on the morrow; Even of the same wise.
_Man._ Forsooth! this is a noble religion; It stirreth me to great devotion For to see that place-- Canst thou bring me thither, well enow? _Sens._ Yea, and it were midnight, I make God avow! As dark as ever it was.
_Then cometh in_ BODILY LUST, _with_ _him_ WORLDLY AFFECTION: SENSUALITY _standeth aside_.
_Bod. Lust._ Marry, sir! I have seeken and sought you This three or four hours.
_Man._ I make God avow! Ye give shrewd attendance; All this two days I could not thee espy.
_Bod. Lust._ Sir! ye know well that ye and I Be never much asunder Albeit I be from you among.
_Man._ And now meseemeth thou hast tarried too long, Which is to me great wonder.
_Bod. Lust._ Wonder? yea, parde! for an hour or twain; Forth for a passing while and come again-- Here is a sore matter: When was I so long absent as now? And yet I was for to seek you At the other side of the water; The place that ye wot of, parde! Understand ye what I mean?
_Man._ _Quid est Latinum propter le stewys?_
_Bod. Lust._ What! Latin? now this of the news; I heard never this ere: I trow ye begin to wax shamefaced!
_Man._ Nay, nay, hardely! that gear is past, Many days agone. I am as wanton as ever I was. _Bod. Lust._ It were alms to hang you else--by the mass!-- By the hard neck bone. But will ye now go with me to a place And I shall show you the smorterst place That ever ye saw with eyes?
