The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 89r
3 of 31 folios
Sche preyde him eek he scholde by no weye
Vnto hir fader no word of hire seye
¶ Some men wolde sein how þat þe child Maurice
Doþ þis message vntil þis Emperour
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But as I gesse Alla was nought so nyce
To him þat was of so souereigne honour
As he þat is of cristene folk þe flour
Sent eny child but it is bet to deme
He went himself and so it may wel seme
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¶ This Emperour hath graunted gentily
To come to dyner as he him bysought
And wel redy he lokede bisily
Vpon þis child and on his doughter þougħt
Alla goþ to his In and as him ougħt
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Arrayed for þis feste in euery wise
As ferforth as his konnyng may suffise
¶ The morwe com and alla gan him dresse
And eek his wyf þis Emperour to meete
And forþ þey ryde in ioye and in gladnesse
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And whan sche seigh hir fader in þe strete
Sche ligħt a doun and falleþ him to feet
Fader qd sche your ȝonge child Custance
Is now ful clene out of ȝoure remembance
¶ I am ȝoure dought er Custance qd sche
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That whilom ye sent vnto Surrye
I am I fader þat in þe salte see
Was putte allone and dampned for to dye
Now goode fader mercy to you I crye
Send me nomore vnto non hethenesse
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But þonk my lord heer of his kyndenesse
¶ Who can þe pitous Ioye tellen al
Bitwexe hem þre syn þey ben þus y mette
But of my tale make an ende I schal
The day goþ faste I wol no lenger lette
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This glad folk to dyner þey hē sette
In ioye and blisse at mete I lete hem dwelle