The Second Nun's Tale
Folio 82v
2 of 16 folios
And thou that floure of virgines art alle
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Of whom that bernard list so wel to wryte
To the at by gynnyng I first calle
Thou confort of vs wrecches do mendite
Thi maydens deth that wanne thurgh hir meryte
The eternal lif and ouer the fend victorie
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As man may after reden in hir storye
Thou mayde and modre doghter of thi sone
Thou welle of mercy synful soules cure
In whom god of bounte chees to wone
Thow humble and heigh ouer euery creature
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Thou nobledest so ferforth our nature
That no desdayn the maker hadde of kynde
His sone in blood and flessh to cloth and wynde
With ynne the cloystre blisful of thi sydes
Took mannes shap the eternal lufe and pees
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That of the tryne compas lorde and gide is
Whom erthe and see and heuene out of relees
Ay heryen and thou virgyne wemmelees
Baar of thi body and dweltest maide pure
The creatour of euery creature
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Assembled is in the magnificence
Wyth mercy goodnesse and swich pitee
That thou that art bicome of excellence
Nat oonly helpst hem that prayen thee
But ofte tyme of thi benygnytee
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Ful frely er that men thyn help biseche
Thou goost biforn and art his lyues leche
Now helpe you meke and blisful fair mayde
Me flemed wrecche in this desert of galle
Thenke on the womman Canane that sayde
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That whelpes eten some of the cromes alle
That from hir lordes table ben I falle
And though that I vnworthi sone of Eue
Be synful yit accepte my bileue