Nay nay god woot / al be he monk of frere [/] Preest or chanon̄ / or eny other wight [/] Thougħ he sitte at his book/ [sic] boþe day and nyght [/] In learnyng of his eluissħ nyce lore [/] As is in veyne / and parde moche more [/] Is to lerne a lewed man / thissotilte [/] ffy spek not þer-of / for it wol not be
No, no, God knows, whether he is a monk, a friar / A clergyman, a priest, or any other living being / Even if he sits at his studies day and night / Learning mysterious and pointless lore / It is all in vain, and worse than that! / To teach an uninitiated man this trick— / Ha! Don't think of it; it's impossible.
An ornamental meal made to resemble a famous event.
