The Franklin's Tale
Folio 169r
21 of 24 folios
720
O Cedasus it is ful gret pite
To reden how þi doughtren deyeden allas
Þat slowe hemself for such a maner caas
As gret appetyt was it or more
The Theban mayden þat for Nichasore
For on of Macedoigne hadde hire opperssed
Hire hadde wedded and y dressed
Þat schal I sayn of Nicharatiffs wijf
730
Þat for such cas byrafte hir self hir lyf
How trewe was eek to alcebiades
His loue þat for to deyen chees
Þan for to suffren his body vnbreyde be
Lo which a wyf was Alcestem quod sche
735
What Emore of good Penolope
Al Grece knoweþ of hir chastite
Pardee of leodomia is write þus
That when at Troye was slayn protheselayus
No lenger nolde sche lyue after his day
740
The same of noble Porcia I telle may
Wiþoute Brutus couþe sche not lyue
To whom he hadde al hol his herte ȝiue
The parfyt wyfhod of archemesy
Honoured is þurgh al þe Barbary
745
O teuta queen in þy wyfly chastite
To alle wyfes may a myrour be
Þus playned Dorigen a day or tweye
Purposed euere þat sche wolde deye
But naþeles vpon þe þridde night
750
Hom cam arueragus þe worþy knigħt
And asked hire why þat sche weep so sore
And sche gan weepen euer lenger þe more
Allas quod sche þat euer was I born
Þus haue I seyd quod he þus haue I sworn
755
I told him aƚƚ as ȝe han herde bifore
It needeþ nouȝt to rehersen it nomore
This housbond wiþ glad cheere in sondry wise /