The Monk's Tale
Folio 200r
22 of 23 folios
And on a day bifil that in that hour
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Whan that his mete was wont to be brought
The galler shette the dores of the tour
He herd it wel / but he spak right noght
And in his hert anon ther fil a thought
That thei for hunger wold doon him dyen
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Allas quod he allas that I was wroght
Ther with the teres fillen from his eyen
Hise yonge sone that thre yeer was of age
Vnto him seyde fader / fader whi do ye wepe
Whanne wole the geailer bryngen our potage
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Is ther no morsel brede that ye do kepe
I am so hungry that I may nat slepe
Now wolde god that I myght slepen euer
Thanne sholde noght hunger in my wombe crepe
Ther nys no thing but breed that me were leuer
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Thus day bi day this childe bigan to crie
Til in his fadres barm adoun it lay
And seide fare wel fader I moote dye
And kist his fadre and dide the same day
And whan the woful fader deed it say
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For wo hise armes two he gan to bite
And seide allas fortune and weylawaye
Thi fals whele my wo al may I wite
Hise children wende that it for hunger was
That he hise armes gnow and nat for wo
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And seiden fader do nat so allas
But rather ete the flessh vpon vs two
Oure flessh thow yaf taak our flessh vs fro
And ete ynogħ right thus thei to him seide
And after that wyth Inne a day or two
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Thei leiden hem in his lappe adoun and deyde .
Him self despired eek for hunger starf
Thus ended is this myghti Erl of Pise .