The Summoner's Tale
Folio 76v
6 of 16 folios
Than burel folk al though that thei were kynges
165
We lyue in pouert and in abstinence
And burel folk in richesse and in dispence
In mete and drynke and in hir foule delite
We han al this worldes luste al in despite
Lazar and diues lyueden diuersely
170
And dyuerse guerdoun had thei ther by
Who so wol prey he most fast and be clene
And fatte his soule and make his body lene
We fare as seith thapostle cloth and fode
Suffiseth vs thoug thei be nat ful gode
175
The clennesse and the fastyng of vs freres
Maketh that crist accepteth our prayers
¶ Lo Moyses xl. dayes and xl nyght
Fasted or that he the heigh god of myght
Spake wyth him in the mount of Synay
180
Wyth empty wombe fastyng many a day
Receyued he the lawe that was wryten
Wyth goddes fynger and Ely wel ye weten
In mount oreb or he had any speche
Wyth hie god that is our lyues leche
185
He fasted longe and was in contemplance
¶ And aron that had the temple in gouernance
And eke that other prestes euerychone
In to the temple whan that thei shold gon
To prey for the peple and do seruyce
190
Thei nolden drynken in no maner wyse
No drynke which that myght hem dronke make
But ther in abstinence trewly prey and wake
Lest that thei deyden take hede what I say
But thei be sobre that for the peple pray
195
War that I sey no more for it suffiseth
¶ Our lord Iħu as holy wryt deuyseth
Yaf vs ensample of fastyng and payers
Therfore we mendynantz we sely freres
Ben wedded to pouert and to contynence
200
To charyte humblesse and abstinence /