The Manciple's Tale
Folio 259v
4 of 8 folios
Ne were þou wont so meryly to synge
Þat to mȳ herte it was a reioisschinge
To here þi voys allas what song is þis
By god quod he I synge nougħt amys
145
Phebus quod he for al þi worþinesse
For aƚƚ þy beaute and þyn gentilnesse
For aƚƚ þi song and al þi menstralcye
For aƚƚ þi waytyng blered is þin ye
Wiþ on of litel reputacioū
150
Nougħt worþ to þe as in comparisoū
Þe mountaūce of a gnatte so mote I þriue
For on þy bed þy wyff I say him swyue
What wole ȝe more þe crowe anon him tolde
By sadde tokenes and by wordes bolde
155
How þat his wyf hadde doon hire leccherie
Him to gret schame and to gret vilanye
And tolde him ofte he say it wiþ his eyen
Þis Phebus gan away ward for to wryen
Him þougħt his sorwful herte brast atuo
160
His bowe he bente and sette þerInne a floo
And in his Ire þan haþ he his wif y slayn
This is þeffecte þer is nomore to sayn
For sorwe of which he brak his mynstralcye
Boþe harpe and lewte gyterne and Sawterye
165
And eek he brak his arwes and his bowe
And after þat þus spak he to þe crowe
Traytour quod he wiþ tonge of Scorpioū
Thou hast me brougħt to my confusioū
Allas þat I was wrougħt why nere I ded
170
O deere wyf o gemme of lustyhed
That were to me so sadde and eek so trewe
Now lyes þou deed wiþ face pale of hewe /
Ful gulteles þat durst I swere ywys
O rakel hound to don so foule amys
175
O trouble witte .O. Ire recheles
That vnauysed smytest gulteles /