The Clerk's Tale
Folio 131v
5 of 31 folios
Ȝet in þe brest of hire <2a>virginite2a>
220
Ther was y closed rype and scharpe <1b>corage1b>
And in a gret reuerence and <2b>charite2b>
Hire olde pouere fader fostred <2c>sche2c>
A fewe scheep fpynnyng on feld sche <3a>kepte3a>
Sche nolde not ben ydel til þat sche <3b>slepte3b>
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And whan sche com homward sche wolde <1a>bringe1a>
Wortes or oþer herbes tymes <2a>ofte2a>
The which sche schredde and seith for hir <1b>lyuynge1b>
And made hir bed ful harde and no þing <2b>softe2b> /
And ay sche kepte hir faderes lif on <2c>lofte2c>
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Wiþ euery obeissance and <3a>diligence3a>
That childe may do to faderes <3b>reuerence3b> /
¶ Vpon Grisilde þe pouer <1a>creature1a>
Ful ofte siþe þe marquys sette his <2a>ye2a>
As he on huntyng rood <1b>parauenture1b>
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And whan it fell þat he might hir <2b>aspye2b>
He not wiþ wantoun lokyng of <2c>folye2c>
His eyen caste on hire but in sad <3a>wyse3a>
Vpon hir cheere he wolde him ofte <3b>auyse3b>
¶ Commendyng in his herte hir <1a>wōmanhede1a>
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And eek hire vertu passyng any <2a>wigħt2a>
Of so ȝong age as wel in cheere as in <1b>dede1b>
For þough þe poeple haue no gret <2b>insigħt2b>
In vertu he considerd ful <2c>rigħt2c> /
Hir bounte and disposed þat he <3a>wolde3a>
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Wedde hir oonly if euer he wedde <3b>scholde3b>
The day of weddyng com but no wigħt <1a>can1a>
Telle what wommā þat it schulde <2a>be2a>
For which meruayle wondreþ many <1b>man1b>
And seyde whan þey were in <2b>pryuyte2b>
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Wil nat oure lord ȝit leue his <2c>vanite2c>
Wil he nat wedde allas allas þe <3a>while3a>
Why wol he þus himself and vs <3b>begile3b>
But naþeles þis marquys haþ don <1a>make1a>
Of gēmes sette in gold and in <2a>asure2a>