The Friar's Tale
Folio 106v
8 of 11 folios
Thay seigh a cart þat chargid was with hay
240
Which þat a carter drof forþ in his way /
Deep was þe way for which þe carte stood
This carter smoot and cryde as he wer wood
Hayt . brok . hayt . scot ./ what spare ȝe for þe stoones
Þe fend quod he . ȝow fech body and bones
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As ferforthly as euer wer ȝe folid
So moche wo as I haue with ȝow tholid
The deuyl haue al boþe cart . and hors and hay
This sompnor sayde her schal we se play
And ner þe feend he drough as nouȝt ne were
250
Ful priuely and rouned in his eere
Herke my broþer herke by þi faith
Ne herest nought þou . what þe carter saith
Hent it anoon for he haþ ȝiuen it þe
Boþe hay and caples and eek his cart perde
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¶ Nay quod þe deuel god wot neuer a del
It is nought his entente trustith wel
Ask it þiself if þou not trowist me
Or ellis stint a while and þou schalt se
This carter thakketh his hors vpon þe croupe
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And þay bygon to drawen and to stowpe
Hayt now quod he ther . Iħu cist ȝow blesse
And al his hondwerk boþe more and lesse /
That was wel twigħt myn oughne lyard boy
I pray god saue þy body and seint loy
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Now is my cart out of þe sloo perde
Lo broþer quod þe feend what told I þe
Her may ȝe seen . myn owne deere broþer
The carter spak oon þing . and þougħt anoþer
Let vs go forth . abouten our viage
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Hier wynne I noþing vpon cariage
Whan þat þay comen som what out of toune
This sompnour to his broþir gan to roune
Brothir quod he . her wonyth an old rebekke
That had almost . as lief to leese hir necke /
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As for to ȝiue a peny of hir good /
I wolf pens þougħ þat sche go wood