The Summoner's Tale
Folio 76r
5 of 16 folios
Ire is a thing that heigh god defended
And ther of wol I speke a word or two
¶ Now Maister quod the wif or that I go
What wil ye dyne I wol go ther aboute
130
¶ Now dame quod he now ieo vous dye sans doute
Haue I nat of a capon but the lyuer
And of your softe bred but a shyuer
And aftyr that a roosted pigges heed
But that I nolde no best for me were deed
135
Thanne had I wyth yow hoomly suffisaunce
I am a man of litel sustynaunce
Mi spirit hath his fosteryng in the bible.
The body is ay so redy and penyble
To wake that my stomak is destroyed
140
I prey yow dame be ye noght anoyed
Though I so frendly yow my counsel shewe
By god I wold nat telle it but a fewe
¶ Now syr quod she but .o. word or ye go
Mi child is deed wyth in this wokes two
145
Sone aftyr that ye went out of this toun
His deth saugh I bi reuelacioun
Seyde this frere at home in our dortour
I dar wel seyn or that half an our
Aftyr his deth I seigh him borne to blisse
150
In myn auysion god so me wisse
So did our sexteyn and our fermorer
That han be trew freres fifty yer
Thei may now god be thanked of his lon
Maken hir Iubile and walke allone
155
And vp I ros and al our couent eke
Wyth many a teere trillyng on our cheke
W . outen noyse or clateryng of belles
Te deum was our song and nothing elles
Saue that to ciste I seyde an orisoun
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Thankyng him of my reuelacioun.
For syr and dame trusteth me ryght wel
Our orisons ben more effectuel
And moore we se of cristes secre thinges