The Prioress' Tale
Folio 212r/211r
6 of 7 folios
To gyden vs vnto þin sone so clere
My connyng is to wayk o blisful queene
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For to declare þin grete worþinesse
That I ne may þe weighte nougħt susteene /
But as a childe of xij monthe elde or lesse
That can vnneþes any word expresse /
Rigħt so fare I and þerfore I ȝou preye
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Gydeþ my song þat I schal of ȝou seye
Ther was in a cite in a gret cite
Amonges cristen folk and Iewerye
Susteyned by a lord of þat cuntre
For foule vsure and lucre of vilanye
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Hateful to crist and to his companye
And þurgħ þe strete men mighte ryde or wende
For it was fre and open at euery ende
A lytel scole of cristen folk þer stood
Doun at þe furþer ende in which þer were
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Children an heepe y come of cristes blood
That lered in þat scole ȝere by ȝeere
Such maner doctrine as men vsed þere
This is to say to syngen and to rede
As smale children don in here childhede
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Among þis children was a wydewes sone
A litel clergoun vij ȝer of age
That day by day to scole was his wone /
And eek also wher he saugħ the ymage /
Of cristes mooder hadde he in vsage
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As him was taugħt to knele a doun and seye
His aue marie as he goþ by þe weye
Thus haþ þis wydewe hire litel child y tauȝt
Oure blisful lady cristes mooder deere /
To worschipe ay and he forgat it nougħt
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For sely child wol alday sone lere
But ay whan I remembre me on þis matere
Seynt Nicholas stant euer in my persence
For he so ȝonge to crist dede reuerence