The Clerk's Tale
Folio 136v
15 of 31 folios
Somwhat þis lord hadde reuþe in his <2c>manere2c>
580
But naþeles his purpos held he <3a>stille3a>
As lordes don whan þay wol haue here <3b>wille3b>
And bad þis sergaunt þat he <1a>priuyly1a>
Schulde þis child fulofte wynde and <2a>wrappe2a>
Wiþ aƚƚ cicumstaunces <1b>tendrely1b>
585
And carye it in a coffre or in a <2b>lappe2b>
But vpon peyne his heed of for to <2c>swappe2c>
Þat no man schulde knowe of his <3a>entent3a>
Ne when he come ne whider þat he <3b>went3b>
¶ But at Boloigne it to his suster <1a>deere1a>
590
That ilke time of Panyke was <2a>Countesse2a>
He schulde it take and schewe hir þis <1b>mateere1b>
Besekyng hire to don hire <2b>besynesse2b>
This child to fostre in aƚƚ <2c>gentilnesse2c>
And whos child þat it was he bad hire <3a>hyde3a>
595
From euery wight for ought þat may <3b>betyde3b>
¶ Þis sergaunt goþ and haþ fulfild þis <1a>þing1a>
But now to þis markys retorne <2a>we2a>
For now goþ he ful ofte <1b>ymagynyng1b>
If by his wyffes cheer he mighte <2b>se2b>
600
Or by hire word apparceyue þat <2c>sche2c>
Were chaunged but he neuer coude hir <3a>fynde3a>
But euer in oon ylike sad and <3b>kynde3b>
¶ As glad as besy as humble in <1a>seruice1a>
And eek in loue as sche was wont to <2a>be2a>
605
Was sche to him in euery maner <1b>wyse1b>
Ne of hir doughter nought a word spak <2b>sche2b>
Accident for non <2c>aduersite2c>
Was seyn in hire ne neuer hir douȝt er <3a>name3a>
Ne nempned sche in ernest ne in <3b>game3b>
610
IN þis astat þer ben passed .iiij. <1a>ȝer1a>
Or sche wiþ childe was but as god <2a>wolde2a>
A knaue childe sche bar by þis <1b>walter1b>
Ful gracious and fair for to <2b>biholde2b>
And whan þat folk it to his fader <2c>tolde2c>