"He is sik," seide Pees, { 445} "And so are manye othere. Ypocrisie hath hurt hem, Ful hard is if thei kevere."
"I am a surgien," seide the segge, "And salves kan make. Conscience knoweth me wel, And what I kan do bothe."
"I praye thee," quod Pees tho, "Er thow passe ferther, 14600 What hattestow? I praye thee; Hele noght thi name."
"Certes," seide his felawe, "Sire _Penetrans-domos_."
"Ye, go thi gate," quod Pees, "By God! for al thi phisik, But thow konne som oother craft, Thow comest nought herinne. I knew swich oon ones, Noght eighte wynter hennes, 14610 Coom in thus y-coped At a court there I dwelde, And was my lordes leche, And my ladies bothe. And at the laste this lymytour, Tho my lord was oute, He salvede so oure wommen Til some were with childe."
Hende-speche heet Pees Open the yates, 14620 "Lat in the frere and his felawe, And make hem fair cheere; He may se and here, So it may bifalle That lif thorugh his loore { 446} Shal leve Coveitise, And be a-drad of Deeth, And withdrawe hym fram Pryde, And acorde with Conscience, And kisse hir either oother." 14630
Thus thorugh Hende-speche Entred the frere, And cam in to Conscience, And curteisly hym grette.
"Thou art welcome," quod Conscience, "Kanstow heele the sike? Here is Contricion," quod Conscience, "My cosyn, y-wounded. Conforte hym," quod Conscience, "And tak kepe to hise soores. 14640 The plastres of the person And poudres biten to soore; He lat hem ligge over longe, And looth is to chaunge hem; Fro lenten to lenten He lat hise plastres bite."
"That is over longe," quod this lymytour, "I leve I shal amende it." And gooth and gropeth Contricion, And gaf hym a plastre 14650 Of 'a pryvee paiement, And I shal praye for yow For al that ye ben holden to, Al my lif tyme, And make yow, my lady, In masse and in matyns As frere of oure fraternytee { 447} For a litel silver.'
Thus he gooth and gadereth, And gloseth there he shryveth, 14660 Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten To crye and to wepe; And wake for hise wikked werkes, As he was wont to doone, For confort of his confessour Contricion he lafte, That is the soverayneste salve For alle kynne synnes.
Sleuthe seigh that, And so dide Pryde, 14670 And comen with a kene wille Conscience to assaille.