The Monk's Tale
Folio 236v
22 of 23 folios
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Now art þou Sathanas þat mayst not twynne
Out of miserie which þou art y falle
¶ Lo Sampson which was annūciate
By þangel long er his natiuite
And was to god almigħty consecrate
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And stood in nobles whiles he mighte se
Was neuer such anoþer as was he
To speke of strengþe and þerto hardynes
But to his wyues tolde he his secre
Thurgħ which he slougħ himself þurgh wrecchednes
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¶ Sampson þis noble and mighty champioū
Wiþouten wepen sauf his handes tweye
He slougħ and al to rente þe leoun
Toward his weddyng walkyng by þe weye
His false wyf couþe him so plese and preye /
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Til sche his counseil knewe and sche vntrewe
Vnto his foos his counseil gan bewreye
And him forsok and took anoþer newe
¶ An hundred foxes tok Sampson for Ire
And aƚƚ here tayles he togyder bond
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And sette þe foxes tayles aƚƚ on fuyre
For he in euery tail haþ putt a brond
And þey brent aƚƚ þe cornes in þat lond
And eek here Olyues and here vynes eeke
A þousend men eek he slougħ wiþ his hond
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And hadde no wepne but an asse cheeke
¶ Whan þey were slayn so þursted him þat he
Was wel neigħ lorn for which he gan to preye