The Clerk's Tale
Folio 124r
8 of 28 folios
Tak it aȝeine .I. graunte it of my grace
Retorneþ to ȝoure faders house qd he
810
Noman maye alweie haue prospite
Wiþ euen hert .I. rede ȝoue to endure
The stroke of fortune or of aventure
¶ And sche aȝeine ansewarde in pacience
My lorde seide sche .I. wote & wist al weie
815
How þat be twex ȝoure magnificence
And my pouerte no whight can ne maie
Maken comperison þat is no naye
.I. held me neuer digne in no manere
To be ȝoure wif ne ȝit ȝoure chamberere
820
¶ And in þis þere ȝe me lady maade
The hihe god take .I. for my wittenesse
And also wisely he my soule gladde
.I. neuer helde me lady ne maistresse
Bot humble seruant to ȝoure worþinesse
825
And euer schal while þat my lif maie dure
Abouen euery worldly creature
¶ That ȝe so longe of ȝoure benignite
Haue holde me in honor & nobleie
Where as .I. was nouht worþe to be
830
Þat þonke .I. god & ȝowe whome .I. preie
For ȝelde it ȝow þere is nomore to seye
Vnto my fader gladly wil .I. wende
And wiþ him duel vnto my lyues ende
¶ Ther .I. was fostred a childe ful smaƚƚ
835
Til .I. be dede my lif þer wil .I. lede
A wedowe clen in body herte & aƚƚ
For seþþe .I. ȝaue to ȝowe my maidenhede
And am ȝoure trewe wif it is no drede
God schelde suche a lordes wif to take
840
Anoþer man to husbonde or to make
¶ And of ȝowre newe wif god of his grace
So gaunt ȝowe wele & hihe prosperite
For .I. wil gladly ȝelden hire my place
In whiche .I. was blisful wonte to be
845
For seþe it likeþ ȝowe my lorde qd sche
That whilom were al myn hertes rest
That .I. schal go .I. wil go whan ȝoue lest
¶ Bot þere as ȝe me profer suche dowaire
As .I. fist brouht it is wele inmy mynde