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Quoth he: “Say sirs, whence hail ye then,

And what news stir the world of men,

And by what happy circumstance

Ye hither come, as ’twere by chance.”

Constrainèd-Abstinence replied:

Fair sir, we seek this countryside

As pilgrims, loyal of heart and true,

Who fain their penitence would do:

Afoot we’ve gone the livelong day

Along the weary dust-strewn way.

Hither are we together sent

By God, to folk impenitent,

And hope our exhortations may

Restore some sinners gone astray;

No other fish we strive to catch,

And in God’s name, by whose dispatch

We sallied forth, we beg to be

Here harboured, and most willingly,

An’t please you, will make good our score

By fitting tale of ghostly lore,

If you such coin are fain to take.

Then Evil-Tongue in answer spake:

My house, quoth he, e’en such as ’tis,

Is yours, no further seek than this,

And preach whatso ye will, cast fear

Aside, I give a ready ear.