The Friar's Tale
Folio 70r
4 of 11 folios
If that the happe to comen in our shire
Al shal be thin ryght as thow wolt desire
¶ Graunt mercy quod this Sompnour bi my feith
Euerich in otheres hond his trouth he leith
105
For to ben sworn britheren til thei dye
In daliance thei riden forth and pley
¶ This Sompnour which that was as ful of Iangles
As ful of venyme ben this warihangles
And euer enqueryng vpon euery thing
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Brother quod he where is now your dwellyng
A nother day yif that I shold yow seche
This yoman him answerd in softe speche
¶ Brother quod fer in the Northe contre
Where as I hope some tyme I shal the se
115
Or we departe I shal the so wel wisse
That of myn hous ne shaltow neuer misse
¶ Now brother quod this Sompnour I yow prey
Teche me whil that we riden bi the wey
Syn that ye ben a bayliff as am .I.
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Some subtiltee as telle me feythfully
In myn office how I may moost wynne
And spareth not for no conscience ne no Synne
But as my brother telle me how do ye
¶ Now bi my trouthe brother dere seyde he
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As I shal telle the a feythful tale
My wages ben ful streyte and ful smale
My lord is hard to me and daungerous
And myn office is ful laborous
And therfore bi extorcions I lyue
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For sothe I take al that men wol me yeue
Algate bi sleight or bi violence
Fro yer to yeer I wynne al my dispence
¶ I can no better sey the feithfully
¶ Now certis quod this sompnour So fare I.
135
I spare noght to taken god it wote
But it be to heuy or to hote
What I may gete in counseil priuely