Epilogue to the Man of Law's Tale
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In vertue and holy almesdede
They lyuen aƚƚ and neuer a sonder wende
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Til deth departe hem þis lif þey lede
And fareþ now wel my tale is at an ende
Now ihū crist þat of his might may sende
Ioye after wo gouerne vs in his gace
And kepe vs aƚƚ þat ben in þis place
Owre oost vpon his stiropes stood anoon
And seyde goode men herkeneþ euerych on
This was a thrifty tale for þe nones
Sire parissche prest qd he for goddes boones
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Telle vs a tale as was þi forward yore
I se wel þat ye lerned men in loore
Can moche good by goddes dignete
The persoū him answerde benedicite
What eyleþ þe man so synfully to swere /
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Oure ost answerde .O. Ianekyn be ye þere
I smelle a lollere in þe wynd quod he
How goode men qd oure host herkeneþ me
Abydeþ for goddes digne passioū
For we schal han a predicacioū
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This lollere heer wil prechen vs som what
Nay by my fader soule þat schal he nat
Seyde þe Esquier heer schal he nat preche
He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche
He leueþ aƚƚ in þe grete god he
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He wolde sowen som difficulte
Or springen Cokkel in oure clene corn
And þerfore oost I warne þe biforn
My Ioly body schal a tale telle
And I schal clynken ȝou so mery a belle
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That I schal waken al þis compaignie
But it schal not ben of philosophie
Ne Phislyas ne termes queinte of lawe
Ther is but litel latyn in my mawe