The Clerk's Tale
Folio 186r
26 of 35 folios
855
¶ But sooth is seyd / algate I fynde it trewe
For in effect it proued is on me
Loue is noght old / as whan þt it is newe
But certes lord / for noon aduersitee
To dyen in this cas / it shal nat be
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That euere in word or werk I shal repente
That I yow yaf myn herte / in hool entente
¶ My lord ye woot þt in my fadres place
Ye dide me strepe / out of my poure wede
And richely / me cladden of youre grace
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To yow broghte I / noght ellis out of drede
But feith / and nakednesse / and maydenhede
And here agayn / my clothyng I restore
And eek my weddyng ryng for euere moore
¶ The remenant of your Iewels / redy be
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Inwith your chambre / dar I saufly sayn
Naked / out of my fadres hous quod she
I cam / and naked moot I turne agayn
Al youre plesance / wol I folwen fayn
But yet I hope / it be nat youre entente
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That I smoklees / out of your palays wente
¶ Ye koude nat doon / so dishoneste a thyng
That thilke wombe / in which youre children leye
Sholde biforn the peple / in my walkyng
Be seyn al bare / wher fore I yow preye
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Lat me / nat lyk a worm / go by the weye
Remembre yow / myn owene lord so deere
I was youre wyf / thogh I vnworthy weere
¶ÊWher fore / in gerdou of my maydenhede
Which þt I broghte / and noght agayn I bere
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As voucheth sauf to yeue me to my mede
But swich a smok as I was wont to were
That I ther with / may wrye the wombe of here
That was youre wyf / and here I take my leeue
Of yow myn owene lord / lest I yow greeue