The Friar's Tale
Folio 117r
4 of 11 folios
He dorste nouȝt for verray filþe and schame
Seie þat he was a somnor for þe name
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Depardieux quod þis ȝoman dere broþer
Þou art a bailly and I am anoþer
I am vnknowen as in þis cuntre
Of þin aqueintance I wil preye þe
And eek of breþerhode if þat þou leste
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I haue golde and siluer in my cheste
If þat þe happed come in to oure schire
Al schal be þin right as þou wolt desyr
Gaunt mercy qd þis somnour by my feiþ
Euerich in oþeres hond his trouþe leiþ
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For to be swore broþer til þey deye
And wiþ þat word þey ryden forþ here weye
This somnour wiþ þat was so I
As ful of venym ben þis wary angles
And euer enquiryng vpon euery þing
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Broþer qd he wher is ȝoure dwellyng
Anoþer day if I scholde ȝou seche
This ȝoman him answerde in softe speche
Broþer quod he fer in þe Norþ cuntre
Wher as I hope som tyme I schal þe se
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Or we departe I schal þe so wel wisse
That of mȳ hous schalt þou neuer misse /
Now broþer quod þis sompnor I ȝou pay
Teche me whil we ryden by þe way
Syn þat ȝe ben a baillyf as am I
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Som subtilte telle me feiþfully
In mȳ office how þat I may most wynne
And spareþ not for conscience ne synne
But as my broþer tell me how do ȝe
Now by my trouþe broþer deere seyde he
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As I schal tellen þe a feiþful tale /
My wages ben ful streyte and smale /
My lord is hard to me and daungerous
And myn office ful laborious