The Squire's Tale
Folio 130v
17 of 19 folios
For his honure as ofte happed so
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That I made vertue of necessite
And took it wel syn that it moste be
As I best myght I hidde fro him my sorwe
And took him bi the hond seint Iohñ to borowe
And seyde thus lo y am youres alle
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Beth suche as y to yow haue ben and shalle
What he answerd it nedyth noght to reherce
Who can sey bet thanne he who can do werse
Whan he hath al wel sayde than hath he doon
Therfore behoueth hir a ful longe spone
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That shal ete wyth a feende thus herd y sey
So atte last he most forth his way
And forth he fleigh til he cam ther him lest
Whan it cam him to purpos for to rest
I trowe I had thilke tixte in mynde
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That alle thing repairyng to his kynde
¶ Gladeth himself thus seyn men as I gesse
Men louen of propre kynde new fangilnesse
As briddes doon that men in cages fede
For thei though nyght or day take hede
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And strawe hir cages fair and softe as silke
And yif hem sugre hony bred and milke
Yit right anon as that his dore is vppe
He wyth his feet wol spurne doun his cuppe
And to the wood he wol and wormes ete
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So newfangil ben thei of hir mete
And louen nouelries of propre kynde
No gentilesse of blood may hem bynde
¶ So ferde this gentil terselet allas the day
Though he were gentil born and fressh and gay
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And goodlych for to se and humble and fre
He saugh vpon atyme a kyte flee
And sodeynly loued this kite so
That al his loue is clene fro me ago
And hath his trouth falsed in this wise
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Thus hath the kite my loue in hir seruise
And I am lorn wyth oute remedye
And wyth that word this faucon gan to crye