The Clerk's Tale
Folio 143v
29 of 31 folios
Embraceþ hem and tendrely <2c>kissinge2c>
Ful like a moder wiþ hire salte <3a>teeres3a>
1085
Sche baþeþ boþe hire visage and hire <3b>heres3b>
¶ O which a pytous sight it was to <1a>see1a>
Hir swownyng and hire humble voys to <2a>heere2a>
Graunt m ercy lord god I þanke it ȝou quod <1b>she1b>
Þat ȝe han saued me my children <2b>deere2b>
1090
Now rekke I neuer to be ded right <2c>heere2c>
Siþþe I stonde in ȝour loue and in ȝour <3a>gace3a>
No fors of deþ ne whan my spirit <3b>pace3b>
¶ O tendre o dere o ȝonge children <1a>myne1a>
Ȝour woful moder wende <2a>stedefastly2a>
1095
That cruel houndes or som foul <1b>vermyne1b>
Hadde eten ȝou but god of his <2b>mercy2b>
And ȝoure benigne fader <2c>tenderly2c>
Haþ don ȝou kepte and in þe same <3a>stounde3a>
Al sodeinly sche swapte a doun to <3b>grounde3b>
1100
¶ And in hire swowne so sadly holdeþ <1a>sche1a>
Hire children tuo whan sche gan hem <2a>enbrace2a>
Þat with gret sleighte and wiþ gret <1b>difficulte1b>
Þe children from hire arm þei gon <2b>arace2b>
O many a teer on many a pitous <2c>face2c>
1105
Doun ran of hem þat stooden hire <3a>besyde3a>
Vnneþe aboute hire mighten þey <3b>abyde3b>
Walter hir gladeþ and hir sorwe <1a>slakeþ1a>
Sche ryseþ vp abaysshed from hire <2a>traunce2a>
And euery wigħt hire ioye and feste <1b>makeþ1b>
1110
Til sche haþ caugħt aȝein hir <2b>contenaūce2b>
Walter hire doþ so feiþfully <2c>plesaunce2c>
Þat it is deynte for to se þe <3a>cheere3a>
Bitwixe hem tuo now þey ben mett in <3b>feere3b>
¶ This ladyes whan þat þey here tyme <1a>saye1a>
1115
Han taken hire and in to chambre <2a>goon2a>
And streepen hire out of hire ruyde <1b>array1b>
And in a cloþ of gold þat brighte <2b>schoon2b>
Wiþ a coroune of many a riche <2c>stoon2c>