The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 61v
24 of 27 folios
¶ Now was this child / as lyk vn to Custance
As possible is / a creature to be
This Alla / hath the face in remembrance
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Of dame Custance / and ther on mused he
If that the childes mooder / were aught she
That is his wyf / and pryuely he sighte
And spedde hym fro the table / that he mygħte
Parfay thoghte he / fantome is in myn heed
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I oghte deme / of skilful Iuggement
That in the salte see / my wyf is deed
And afterward / he made his Argument
What woot I / if that Crist haue hyder ysent
My wyf by see / as wel as he hir sente
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To my contree / fro thennes that she wente
And after Noon / hoom with the Senatour
Goth Alla / for to seen this wonder chaunce
This Senatour dooth Alla greet honour
And hastifly / he sente after Custaunce
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But trusteth weel / hir liste nat to daunce
Whan þt she wiste / wherfore was that sonde
Vnnethe / vp on hir feet she myghte stonde
¶ Whan Alla saugħ his wyf faire he hir grette
And weepe / that it was routhe for to see
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For at the firste look he on hir sette
He knew wel verraily / that it was she
And she for sorwe / as doumb stant as a tree
So was hir herte shet in hir distresse
Whan she remembred / his vnkyndenesse
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Twyes she swowned / in his owene sighte
He weepe / and hym excuseth pitously
Now god quod he / and hise halwes brigħte
So wisly on my soule / as haue mercy
That of youre harm / as giltlees am I
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As is Maurice my sone / so lyk youre face
Elles the feend / me fecche out of this place
¶ Long was the sobbyng / and the bitter peyne
Er that / hir woful hertes mygħte cesse
Greet was the pitee / forto heere hem pleyne
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Thurgħ whiche pleintes / gan hir wo encresse
I pray yow alle / my labour to relesse
I may nat telle hir wo / vn til tomorwe
I am so wery / for to speke of sorwe