The Friar's Tale
Folio 119r
8 of 11 folios
And rigħt at þentryng of þe tounes ende
To which þe somnor schop him for to wende
Thay say a carte þat charged was with hey
240
Which þat a cartere drof forþ on his wey
Deep was þe wey for whiche þe carte strood
This cartere smot and striued as he were wood
Hayt brok hayt scot what spare we for þe stones
The feend quoþ he ȝow fecche boþe body and bones /
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As ferforþly as euere were ȝe foled
So moche woo as I haue for ȝou þoled
Þe deuel haue al boþe hors and cart and hey
Þoughte þis somnor he schulle we haue a pley
And neer þe feend he drougħ as nougħt ne were
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Ful priuely and rouned in his eere
Herkne my broþer herkne by þy feiþ
Herestow nat how þe cartere seiþ
Hente it anone for he haþ ȝiuen þe
Boþe hey and carte and eek his caples þre /
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Nay qd þe deuyl god wot neuer a del
It is not his entente truste me wel
Aske him þiself if þou nat trowest me
Or elles stynte a while and þou schalt se
This carter þakked his hors on þe croupe /
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And þey bygonne to drawe and to stoupe /
Hayt now qd he þat Ihū crist ȝou blisse
And aƚƚ his hondywerk boþe more and lesse /
Þat was wel twigħt myn owne lyard boy
I pay god saue þe and seinte Loy
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Now is my carte out of þe slougħ par de
Lo broþer quod þe feend what tolde I þe /
Here may ye see myn oughne deere broþer
The carle spak o þing but he þought anoþer
Late vs go forþ abouten oure viage
270
Here wynne I no þing vpon cariage
Whan þat þey comen somwhat out of þe toun
Þis somnour to his broþer gan to roun