The Clerk's Tale
Folio 127v
23 of 32 folios
I neuer huld me lady ne maistresse /
But humble seruaunt to ȝour worthinesse
825
And euer schal whil þat my lyf may dure
Abouen euery worldly creature
That ȝe so longe of ȝour benignite
Han holden me in honour and nobleye
Wher as I was not worþy for to be
830
That þonk I god and ȝow to whom I preye
Forȝeld it ȝow þer is more to seye
Vnto my fader gladly wil I wende
And with him duelle vnto my lyues ende /
Ther I was fostred as a child ful smal
835
Til I be deed my lyf þer wil I lede
A widow clene in body hert and al
For sith I ȝaf to ȝow my maydenhede
And am ȝour trewe wyf it is no drede
God schilde such a lordes wyf to take
840
Anoþer man to housbond or to make
And of ȝour newe wif . god of his grace
So graunte ȝow . wele and prosperite
For I wol gladly ȝelden hir my place
In which þat I was blisful wont to be
845
For sith it liketh ȝow my lord quod sche
That whilom were al myn hertes reste
That I schal gon . I wil go whan ȝow leste
But þer as ȝe profre me such dowayre /
As I ferst brougħt . it is wel in my mynde
850
It were my wrecchid cloþes no þing faire
Þe whiche to me were hard now for to fynde
O goode god . how gentil and how kynde
Ȝe semed by ȝour speche and ȝour visage
That day þat maked was our mariage
855
But soþ is sayd algate I fynd it trewe /
For in effect it proued is on me
Loue is nougħt old . as whan þat it is newe /
But certes lord for noon aduersite /
To deyen in þe caas it schal not be /
860
Þat euer in word or werk I schal repente