The Clerk's Tale
Folio 105v
32 of 35 folios
1065
This is thi doghter which thow hast supposed
To be my wif that other feithfully
Shal be myn heir as y haue ay purposed
Thow bar hem in thi body trewly
At boleigne haue I kep hem pryuely
1070
Taak hem agayn for now maistow nat sey
That thow hast lorn non of thi children twey
And folk that otherweyes han seyde of me
I warne hem wel that I haue doon this dede
For no malice ne no crueltee
1075
But for tassay in the thi wommanhede
And nat to slee my children god for bede
But for to kepe hem pryuely and stille
Til I thi purpos knew and ek thi wille
Whan she this herd aswoun doun she falletħ
1080
For pitous ioy and aftyr hir swounynge
She bothe hir yonge children vn to hir calleth
And in hir armes pitously wepyng
Embraceth hem and tendrely kyssyng
Ful lyk a modyr wyth hir salte teres
1085
She bathed bothe hir visage and hir heres
O which a pitous thing it was to se
Hir swounynge and hir humble voys to here
Graunt mercy lord god thanke it yow quod she
That ye han saued me my children dere
1090
Now rekke I neuer to be ded ryght here
Syn I stonde in your loue and in your grace
No force of deth ne whan my spirit pace
O tendre o. dere .o. yonge children myn
Your woful modyr wende stedfastly
1095
That cruwel houndes or sum foul vermyne
Had eten yow but god of his mercy
And your benygne fadre tendrely
Hath doon yow kepte and in the same stounde
Al sodeynly she swapte adoun to grounde