The Knight's Tale
Folio 13v
61 of 63 folios
40
A company of ladies tweye and tweye
Eche after oþer cladde in cloþes blake
But such a cry and such a woo þei make
That in þis world is creature lyuynge
That herde such anoþer weymentynge /
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And of þis cry þey nolde neuer stente
Til þei þe Reynes of his bridel hente
What folk ben ȝe þat at myn hom comynge
Pertourbe so my feste wiþ cryinge
Quod Theseus haue ȝe so gret enuye
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Of myn honour that þus compleigne and crie
Or who haþ ȝou mysboden or offended
And telleþ me if it may ben amended
And whi þat ȝe ben cloþed thus in blak
The eldest lady of hem aƚƚ spak
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Whan sche had swouned with a dedly cheere
That it was routhe for to seen and heere
¶ Sche seide lord to whom fortune haþ yiuen
Victorie and as a conquerour to lyuen
Not greueþ ous ȝoure gloire and your honour
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But we beseke mercy and socour
Haue mercy on our woo and our distresse
Som drope of pite þurgh þi gentilesse /
Vpon vs wrecched wōmen let ȝe faƚƚ
For certes lord þer is non of vs aƚƚ
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That sche nath ben a duchesse or a queene
Now be we Caytifs as it is wel seene
Thanked be fortune and hir false whiel
That non estat ensureth for to ben wel
Now certes lord to abyde ȝoure presence /
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Here in þis temple of the goddesse Clemence
We haue be waytinge al þis fourte night
Helpe vs lord sith it is in þy migħt
¶ I wrecche which þat weepe and weile þus
Was whilom wyf of kyng Cappaneus
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That starf at Thebes cursed be þat day