The Franklin's Tale
Folio 134r
4 of 24 folios
For his absence wepeth she and siketh
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As doon thise noble wyues whan hem liketh
She morneth welketh wailleth fasteth pleyneth
Desir of his persence so hir destreyneth
That al this wilde world she set at noght
Hir frendes which that knew hir heuy thoght
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Conforten hir in al that euer thei may
Thei perchen hir thei telle hir nyght and day
That causelees she sleeth hir self allas
And euery confort possible in this cas
Thei doon to hir wyth al hir bisinesse
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Al for to make hir leue hir heuynesse
¶ By proces as ye knowen euerychone
Men may so longe grauen in \a/ stone
Til some figure ther ynne empryntid be
So longe han thei conforted hir til she
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Receyued hath bi hope and bi resoun
The emprentyng of hir consolacioun
Thurgh which hir gret sorwe gan asswage
She may nat alwey duren in swich rage
¶ And eke Arueragus in al this care
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Hath sent hir lettres hom of his welfare
And that he wol come hastily agayn
Or elles hadde this sorwe hir hert slayn
¶ Hir frendes saw hir sorwe gan to slake
And preyde hir on knees for goddes sake
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To come and romen hir in compaignye
Awey to dryue hir derke fantasye
And fynally she graunted that request
For wel she saugh that it was for the best
¶ Now stood hir casteƚƚ fast bi the see
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And often wyth hir frendes walketh she
Hir to disport vpon the banke on high
Where as she many a ship and barge sigh
Seilling hir cours wher as hem list to go
But thanne was that a parcel of hir wo
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For to hir self ful ofte allas seith she .