The Manciple's Tale
Folio 260v
2 of 8 folios
But naþeles þus taughte me my dame
My sone þenk on þe crowe a goddes name
215
My sone keepe wel þi tonge and kepe þy frende
A wikked tonge is worse þan a feende
My sone From a feend men may hem blesse
My sone god of his endeles goodnesse /
Walled a tonge wiþ teeþ and lippes eeke
220
For man schulde him auyse what he speeke
My sone ful ofte for to mochel speche
Haþ many a man be spilt as clerkes teche
But for litel speche auysily
Is no man schent to speke generally
225
My sone þy tonge schuldest þou restreigne
At aƚƚ tyme but whan þou dost þy peyne
To speke of god in honour and preyere
The ferste vertu sone if þou wolt lere
Is to restreyne and kepe wel þi tunge
230
Þus lernen children whanne þey ben ȝonge
My sone of mochel spekyng euel auysed
Ther lasse spekyng hadde ynougħ suffised
Comeþ mochil harm þus was me told and taugħt
In mochil speche synne wanteþ naugħt
235
Wostow wher of a rakil tonge serueþ
Rigħt as a swerd forkutteþ and forkerueþ
An arm a tuo my deere sone rigħt so
A tunge kutteþ frendschipe al a tuo
A ianglere is to god abhominable /
240
Rede Salamon so wys and honorable /
Rede Dauyd and his psalmys red senekke
My sone speek nougħt but wiþ þin heed þou bekke
Dissimule as þou were defe if þat þou heere
A Iangler speke of perilous mateere
245
Þe flemyng saiþ and lerne it if þe leste
Þat lytel Iangelynge causeþ mechel reste
My sone if þou no wickede word hast seyd
Þe þar nouȝt drede for to be bywreyd