The Manciple's Tale
Folio 227r
2 of 7 folios
Whiche þat he loued more þan his owen lif
And nyht & daie dide euer his diligence
Hir for to plese & done hir reuerence
Saue onely if þe soþe þat .I. schal seye
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Ielowse he was & wolde haue kepped hire feyne
For him were loþe Iaped for to be
And so euery whiht in suche degre
Bot al for nouht for it availeþ nouht
A good wif þat is clene of werke & þouht
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Schold not be kepped in none awaite certeine
And trewly þe labor is in veyne
To kepe a schrewe for it wil nouht be
Þis holde .I. for a verraie nycete
To spiƚƚ a labor for to kepe wives
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Thus writen olde clerkes in her lyues
Bot nowe to purpos as .I. first be gan
Þis worþi phebus doþ al þat he cañ
To plesen hir weneinge be suche plesance
And for his manhode & his gouernance
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Þat noman schold haue put him fro hir grace
Bot god it wote þer maie noman enbrace
As to discryve a þinge whiche þat nature
Haþe naturelly sette in a creature
Tak any birde & put it in a kage
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And do al þine entente & þi Corage
To foster it tendurli wiþ mete & drinke
Of al Deynteþes þou canst be þinke
And kepe it as clenly as þou maie
Al þou he his cage of golde be neuere so gaie
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Ȝit haþ þis berde be twenty þousande folde
Leuer in a forest þat is wilde & colde
Gone ete wermes & suche wrechednesse
For euer þis birde wil done his besinesse
To ascape oute of his cage whan he maie
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His liberte þe birde desireþ aie
Lat take a katte & foster him wele wiþ melke
And tendre flessche & make his couche of selke
And late him sene a mouse go by þe waƚƚ
And anone he weyueþ melke flesche & aƚƚ
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And euery deynte þat is in þat house
Suche appetite haþe he to ete a mouse
Lo he haþ lust his dampnacione