The Summoner's Tale
Folio 80r
13 of 16 folios
Lo by my fey in me shal be no lak
¶ Now thanne put thin hond doun bi my bak
Seyde this man and grope wel bi hynde
By nethe my bottok there shaltow fynde
435
A thing that I haue hid in priuete
¶ A thought the frere this shal go wyth me
A doun his hand he launcheth to the clift
In hope for to fynde there a yift
And whan this sek man felt this frere
440
A boute his tuwel grope there and there
Amyd his hand he let the frere a fart
Ther nys no capil drawyng in a cart
That myght han late a fart of such a soun
¶ The frere vpstert as dooth a wood leoun
445
A fals cherle quod he for goddes boones
This hastow for despite doon for the nones
Thow shalt aby this fart yif I may
¶ His meyne which that herden this affray
Come lepyng yn and chased out the frere
450
And forth he gooth wyth a ful angry chere
And fet his felaw ther there as lay his store
He loked as it were a wilde bore
He grynt wyth his teth so was he wrooth
A sturdy pas doun the court he gooth
455
Wher as ther wonned aman of gret honour
To whom that he was alwey confessour
This worthi man was lord of that vilage
This frere come as he were in arage
Where as this lord sat etyng at his bord
460
Vnneth myght the frere speke a word
Til atte last he seyde god yow se
¶ This lord gan to loke and seide benedicite
What frere Ioħn what maner world is this
I se wel that som thing ther is amys
465
Y loke as thogh the wod were ful of theues
Sit doun anon and telle me what your greue is
And it shal ben amended yif I may
I haue quod he had a dispite to day
God yelde yow adoun in your vilage