The Nun's Priest's Tale
Folio 255v
2 of 19 folios
The hope and eek þe pruyde of of here enuye
585
This Cok þat lay vpon þis foxes bak
In aƚƚ his drede vnto þe fox he spak
And sayde sire if I were as ȝe
Ȝet schuld I say as wis god helpe me
Turneþ aȝein ȝe proude cherles aƚƚ
590
A verray pestilence vpon ȝou faƚƚ
Now am I come vnto þis woodes syde
Maugre ȝour heed þe cok schal here abyde
I wole him ete in feiþ and þat anon
The Fox answerde in feiþ it schal be don
595
And he spak þat word al sodeinly
This Cok brak fro his mouþ delyuerly
An heigh vpon a tree he fleigħ anoon
And whan þe fox saugħ þat he was goon
Allas quod he O Chaunteclere allas
600
I haue quod he don to ȝow a trespas
In als moche as I made ȝou afferd
When I ȝou hente and brougħt out of þe ȝerd
But sire I dede it nougħt in no wicked entent
Come doun and I schal telle ȝou what I ment
605
I schal ȝou seye soþ god helpe me so /
Nay þanne quod he I schrewe vs boþe tuo /
And ferst I schrewe my self boþe blood and bones
If þou begile me ofter þan ones /
Thou schalt nomore wiþ þin flaterye
610
Do me to synge and wynke wiþ mȳ ye
For he þat wynkeþ whan he schulde se
As wisly god let him neuer þe
Nay quod þe fox god ȝiue him meschaunce
That is so vndiscret of gouernaūce
615
Þat iangleþ whan he schulde haue pees
Lo suche it is for to be recheles /
And necligent and trusteþ on flaterye
But ȝe þat halden þis tale a folye
As of a fox and of a cok and an hen