The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 77v
26 of 31 folios
And notified is þurgħ out þe touñ
That euery wigħt wiþ gret deuocioū
160
Scholde preye crist þat he þis mariage
Receyue in gree . and speede þis viage
¶ The day is come of hir departyng
I sey þe woful lady fatal is come
That þer may be no lenger tarying
165
But forþward þey hem dressen aƚƚ & some
Custance þat with sorw is al ouercome
Ful pale arist and dresseþ hire to wende
For wel sche seeth þer is non oþer ende
Allas what wonder is it þough sche wepte
170
That schal be sent to strange nacioū
Fro freendes þat so tendrely hire kepte
And to be bounden vnder Subiecciou~
Of oon sche knoweth not his condicioū
Housbondes ben aƚƚ goode and han ben yore
175
That knowen wyfes I dar say ȝou namore
¶ Fader sche sayde þi wrecchede child Custaunce
Thy yonge doughter fostred vp so softe
And ye my mooder my souereigne plesaūce
Ouer aƚƚ þing out taken crist a lofte
180
Custance your child hir recomandeþ ofte
Vnto your grace for I schal to Surrie
Ne schal I neuer seen ȝou more with ye
Allas vnto þe Barbarie naciou~
I moste anon siþþen it is your wille
185
But crist þat starf for oure Redempciou
So yeue me grace his hestes to fulfille
I wrecche wōman no fors þough I spille
Wōmen are born to thraldom and penance
And to ben vnder mannes gouernance
190
¶ I trowe at Troye whan Purrus brak þe walle
Or ylion þat brende Thebes þat Citee
Not Rome for the harme thurgħ hanybal
That Romayns haþ venquissed tymes þre