The Franklin's Tale
Folio 294v
15 of 21 folios
Awaytht nygh & day on this myrakele
And whā he knew þt there was noon obstakele
That woydede weere the rokkys euerychon
Doun to hise maysteris feet he fel a noon
595
And seyde I woful wreche aurelyus
Thanke I ȝow lord & lady myn venus
That me hā holpȳ of myne caris colde
And to the temple his weye forth hath helde
Where as he knew he schulde his lady see
600
And whan he saw his tyme a noon ryght he
With dredful herte & with hūble cheere
Saluyth hath his souereyn lady deere
Myn ryghte lady quod this woful man
Whō I most dreede & loue as I best can
605
And lothest weere of al this world displeese
Neere it þt I for ȝow / haue swich disese
That I muste deyen here at ȝoure fot a non
Nat wolde I telle how me is wo bygoon
But sertys othir muste I deye or pleyne
610
Ȝe sle me giltles for veray peyne
But of myn deth thow ȝe han no routhe
A vyseth ȝow er than ȝe breke ȝoure trouthe
repente ȝow for thilke god a boue
Er ȝe me sle by cause that I ȝow loue
615
For madame weel ȝe wot what ȝe hā hyȝt
Nat that I chalange ony thyng of ryght
Of ȝow myn souereyn / lady but ȝoure grace
But in a gardyn / ȝond in swich a place
Ȝe woot ryȝt weel what ȝe be hyghtȳ me
620
And in myn hand ȝoure trouthe plyghte ȝe
To loue me god wot ȝe seyde so
Al be that I vnworthi am therto
Madame I speke it for the honor of ȝow
Moore than to saue myn hertys lyf ryȝt now
625
I haue don so as ȝe comaū~~dede me
And ȝif ȝe vouche saf ȝe may go se
Doth as ȝow lyste hauyth ȝoure heste ī mȳde
For quyk or ded rygh there ȝe schul me fȳde