The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 76r
29 of 31 folios
50
Soiorned han þise marchantez in þat toun
A certein tyme as feƚƚ to hire plesance
But so feƚƚ þat þe excellent renoun
Of þe Emperour doughter dame Custance
Reported was with euery circumstance
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Vnto þise Surrien marchantz in swich wise
Fro day to day as I schal you deuyse
¶ This was þe cōe voys of euery man
Oure emperour of Rome god him see
A doughter he haþ þat syn þe world bigan
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To rekne as wel hir goodnesse as beaute
Nas neuer such anoþer as is sche
I pray to god in honour hir sustene
And wolde sche were of aƚƚ Europe þe queene
¶ In hire is heigh beaute wiþoute pride
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Youþe wiþoute greenehod of folye
To aƚƚ hire werkes vertu is hire guyde
Humblesse haþ slayn in hire al tyrannye
Sche is a merour of aƚƚ curtesye
Hire herte is verray chambre of holynesse
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Hire hand ministre of fredam for almesse
¶ And al þis voys is soþ as god is trewe
But now to purpos lat vs turne again /
Thise marchantz han doon fraught here schippes newe
And whan þay haue þis blisful mayde sain
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Hom to Surrey beþ þei went agayn
And don here needes as þey han don yore
And lyuen in wele I can seye yow nomore
Now fil it þat þis marchantz stoden in grace
Of him þat was þe Sowdon of Surrie
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For whan þei came from eny strange place
He wolde of his benigne curtesie /
Make hem good chere and besily aspie
Tythynges of sundry Reines for to leere
The wondres þat þey mighte seen or heere
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Amonges oþer þinges specially