The Physician's Tale
Folio 147r
6 of 8 folios
Mi seruant which that is my thral bi right
Which fro myn hous was stolyn on a nyght
185
Whil that she was ful yonge this wole I preue
By witnesse lord so that it yow nat greue
She nys his doughter nat what so he seye
Wherefore to yow my lorde the Iuge I preye
Yelde me my thral yif that it be your wille
190
Lo this was al the sentente of this bille
¶ Virginius gan vp the clerke biholde
But hastily or he his tale tolde
He wold haue preuyd it as sholde a knyght
And eke bi wittenessyng of many a wight
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That al was fals that seide his aduersarie
This cursed Iuge wolde no thing tarye
Ne here a word moore of virginius
But yaf his Iugement and seide thus
¶ I deme anon this clerk his seruant haue
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Thow shalt no lenger in thyn hous hir saue
Go bringe hir forth and put hir in our warde
The Clerk shal han his thral this I awarde
And whan this worthi knyght viginius
Thurgh sentence of this Iustice Apius
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Muste bi force his deere doughter yeuen
Vnto the Iuge in lecherie to lyuen
He goth him hoom and set him in his halle
And let anon his dere doughter calle
And wyth a face deed as asshen colde
210
Vpon hir humble face he gan biholde
Wyth fadres pitee stikyng thurgh his hert
Al wolde he nat from his purpos to conuerte
¶ Doughter quod he Virginea bi the name
Ther ben two weyes either deeth or shame
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That thow moste suffre allas that I was bore
For thow neuer deseruedest wherfore
To dyen wyth a swerde or with a knyf
O. dere doughter ender of my lif
Which I haue I fostred vp with swich plesaunce
220
That thow were neuer out of my remembraunce .