The Nun's Priest's Tale
Folio 239r
3 of 16 folios
60
Fro þilke tyme as I haue vnderstonde
Bestis and briddes cowde speke and synge
And so byfel þat in a dawenynge
As Chaunteclere among his wyues alle /
Sat on his perche / þat was in his halle
65
And next him sat þis faire pertelote
This Chauntecler gan gronen in his þrote
As man þat in his dreem is drecched sore /
And whan þat Pertelot þus herd him rore
Sche was agast and sayde herte deere
70
What eylith ȝow to grone in þis manere
Ȝe ben a verray sleper fy for schame
And he answerd and sayde þus ma dame
I pray ȝow þat ȝe take it nouȝt agreef
By god me mette I was in such meschief
75
Right now þat ȝit myn hert is sore afrigħt
Now god quod he my sweuen rede arigħt
And keep my body out of foul prisoun
Me mette how þat I romed vp and doun
Wiþinne oure ȝerd wher as I saugh a beest
80
Was lik an hound and wold haue maad arrest
Vpon my body and wold han had me deed
His colour was bitwixe ȝolow and reed
And tipped was his tail and boþe his eeres
Wiþ blak vnlik þe remenaūt of his heres
85
His snowt was smal with glowyng yen tweye
Ȝet of his look / for fer almost I deye
This caused me my gronyng douteles
A way quod sche . fy on ȝow herteles
Allas quod sche for by þat god aboue
90
Now haue ȝe lost myn hert and al my loue
I can nougħt loue a coward by my feith
For certis what so eny womman seith
We alle desiren if it mighte be
To haue housbondes hardy riche and fre
95
And secre and no nygard ne no fool
Ne him þat is agast of euery tool
Ne noon auaunter by þat god aboue ************running head here ?????????????????