The Squire's Tale
Folio 156v
17 of 17 folios
Wher me was wo it is no questiou~ /
I can nat make of it descripciou~
For o þing dar I telle boldely
I know what is þe peyne of deth þerby
575
Which harm I felt for he ne mighte byleue
So on a day of me he took his leue
So sorwful eek þat I went verrayly
That he had feled als moche as I
Whan þat I herd him speke and saugh his hewe
580
But naþeles I þought he was vntrewe
And eek þat he schulde repeire aȝeyn
Wiþinne a litel while soþ to seyn
And resoū wold eek þat he moste go :
for his honour \/ as oft happeth so . /
Wherfor I wold not ben ayein his honour****************************************
585
Than I made vertu of necessite
And took it wel seþens it moste be /
As I best migħt I had for him my sorwe
And took him by þe hand seint Iohñ to borwe
And sayde þus / lo I am ȝour al
590
Beþ such as I haue be to ȝou and schal
What he answerd it needeþ nat to reherse
Who can best say þan he / who can do werse /
Whan he haþ al wel sayd þan haþ he doon
Therfor bihoueþ him a ful long spoon
595
That schal ete wiþ a feend þus herd I say
So atte last he moste forth his way
And forth he fleeth til he cam þer him leste
Whan it cam him to purpos for to reste
I trow he hadde þilke text in mynde
600
That alle þing repeyryng to his kynde
Gladeþ him self þus sey men as I gesse
Men louen of kynde newefangilnesse /
As briddes doon þat men in cage feede
For þeigh þou night and day take of hem heede
605
And straw her cage faire and soft as silk
And ȝeue hem sugre hony breed and mylk
Ȝet right anoon as his dore is vppe
He with his feet wil sporne doū his cuppe And to þe wode