The Knight's Tale
Folio 156v
24 of 60 folios
935
And myȝtyn a leuyd in thebes really
And wetyn I am here mortal enemy
And that here deth lyth in myn myȝt also
And ȝit hath loue maugry here eyȝyn two
Brought hem hedyr bothe for to deye
940
Now lokith is not this an hey folye
Who may ben a fol but ȝif he loue
Behold for godis sake that sit a boue
Se how þey blede be þey not wel a rayed
Thus hath here lord the god of loue hē payed
945
Here wagis & here feis for here seruyse
And ȝit þey wene for to ben ful wyse
That seyn \to/ loue for ouȝt that may be falle
But þis is ȝit the beste gise of alle
That sen for whō they han this iolyte
950
Kan hē therfore as meche thank as me
Sche wot no more of al this hote fare
By god than wot a kokkow or an hare
But al mote ben asayed hot or cold
A man mot nede ben a fol or ȝong or old
955
I wote it be myn self ful ȝore agon
For in myn tyme a seruaūt was I on
And þerfore syn I knowe of loue peyne
And wot how sore it can a man distreyne
As he that hath ofte be cauȝt in his las
960
I ȝow for ȝeue al holy this trespas
At request of the quen that knelith here
And ek of emalye myn systir dere
And ȝe schul bothe a non vn to me swere
That neuere mo ȝe schul myn cuntre dere
965
Ne mak werre vp on me nyȝt ne day
But ben mynne frendys ī al that ȝe may
I ȝow forȝeue þis trespas euerydel
And þey hȳ sworyn hise axinge fayre & wel
And hȳ of lordschepe & of mercy preyede
970
And he hē graūtede grace & þus he seyde