Three Thives

War was gone but need was come in its stead.¹
Now were here three persons who each stole a sack of corn from different owners.
They were all caught.
Now the first (owner) went and brought the thief before the sheriff.
The maids said everywhere that he had done right.⁵
The other took the corn off of the thief and let him go forth in peace.
The maids said he had done well.
But the third owner went to the thief’s house then.
When he now saw there how need had transformed his place, then went he back and came again with a wagon full of necessities, wherewith he drove need from the hearth.
Frya’s maids had come around to him and wrote his name in the eternal book, the while they had wiped out his sins.¹⁰
It was told to the Honouredmother and she let it be known throughout all the land.