The Physician's Tale
Folio 191v
8 of 10 folios
Þough sche were wys as Pallas dar I seyn
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Hire faucond eek ful wōmanly and pleyn
None counterfeted termes hadde sche
To seme wys but after hire degre
Sche spak and aƚƚ hire wordes more and lesse
Sownyng in vertue and in gentillesse
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Schamefast sche was in maydens schamefastnesse
Constant in herte and euere in busynesse /
To dryue hire oute of hire slogardye
Bachus hadde of hir mouþ no maystrie
For will and þougħt doon venus encrece
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As men in fyr wol casten oyle or grece /
And of hire owne vertue constreyned
Sche haþ ful ofte tyme hire seek feyned
For þat sche wolde flee þe companye /
Wher likly was to treten of folye
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As is at festes . Reueles . and at daunces
That ben occasioūs of dalyaunces
Suche þinges maken children for to be
To sone rype and bolde as men may se
Which is ful perilous and haþ ben ȝore
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For al to sone may sche lerne lore /
Of boldenesse whan sche is a wijf
And ȝe maystresses in ȝoure olde lyf
Þat lordes doughtres han in gouernaūce /
Ne takeþ of my word no displesaūce
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Þinges þat ben sette in gouernynges
Of lordes doughtres only for tuo þinges
Ouþer for ȝe han kept ȝour honeste /
Oþer ȝe han falle in frelete
And knowen wel ynougħ þe olde daunce
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And konne forsake fully meschaunce
For euermo þer fore for cristes sake /
Kepeþ wel þo þat ȝe vndertake
A þeef of venysoū þat haþ forlaft
His likorousnesse and aƚƚ his theues craft