The Physician's Tale
Folio 145v
3 of 8 folios
That ben occasiouns of daliaunces
Swich thing maken children for to be
To soone ripe and bold as men may se
Which is ful perilous and hath ben yore
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For al to sone may she lerne loore
Of boldnesse whan that she is a wif
¶ And ye maistresse in your olde lif
That lordes doughtres han in gouernaunce
Ne taketh of my word no displesaunce
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Thinketh that ye ben set in gouernynges
Of lordes doughtres for on of two thinges
Outher for ye han kepte your honeste
Or elles ye han fallen in freelte
And knowen wel ynogh the olde daunce
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And han forsaken fully swich meschaunce
¶ A theef for venisoun that hath forlafte
His likerousnesse and al his olde crafte
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Can kepe a forest best of any man
Now kepeth wel for yif ye wol ye can
Look wel that ye vn to no vice assente
Lest ye be dampned for your wikke entente
¶ For who so doth a treitour is certeyn
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And taketh keep of that I shal yow seyn
Of alle tresons souereigne pestilence
Is whan a man bitraiseth Innocence
¶ The fadres and the modres ek also
Thogh ye han children be it oon or mo
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Youre is the charge of al hir surueaunce
Whil that thei ben vnder your gouernaunce
Beeth war that bi ensample of your lyuynge
Er bi your necligence in chastisinge
That thei ne perissh for I dar wel seye
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Yif that thei doon ye shol it dere abeye
Vnder a shepard softe and negligent
The wolf hath many a sheep and lamb to rent
Suffiseth oon ensample now as here
For I mote turne ageyn to my Matere
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¶ This maide of which I wol my tale expersse
So kept hir that hir neded no maistresse