The Franklin's Tale
Folio 159v
2 of 24 folios
For sche was on þe fairest vnder sonne
And eek þerto come of so heih kynrede
That wel vnneþes durst þis knigħt for drede
Telle hire his wo his peyne and his distresse
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But atte laste sche for his worþinesse
And namely for his meke obeissance
Haþ such a pite caugħt of his penaunce
That priuely sche felle of his acord
To take him for hir housbonde and hire lord
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Of such lordschipe as men han ouer here wyues
And for to lede þe more in blisse here lyues
Of his fre wille he swor hire as a knigħt
Þat neuer in his wille by day ne by nigħt
Ne schulde he vpon him take no maystrie
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Aȝeins hire wille ne kuyþe hire Ialousye
But hire obeye and folwe hire wille in al
As ony louere to his lady schal
Saue þat þe name of souereynete
That wolde he han for schame of his degre
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Sche þankeþ him and wiþ ful gret humblesse
Sche sayde sire seþþen of ȝour gentilnesse
Ȝe profre me to han a large reyne
Ne wolde neuer god betwixe vs tweyne
As in my gilt were eyþer werre or stryf
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Sire I wil be ȝour owne humble trewe wijf
Haue here my trouþe til þat myn herte breste
Thus be þey boþe in quiete and in reste
For o þing syres saufly dar I seye
That frendes euerich oþer mote obeye
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If þay wole longe holde companye
Loue wol nougħt ben constreigned by maystrie
Whan maystrie comeþ þe god of loue anon
Beteþ on his wynges and fare wel he is gon
Loue is a þing as any spiryt fre
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Wōmen of kynde desiren liberte
And nouȝt to be constreigned as a þral