The Reeve's Tale
Folio 55v
12 of 13 folios
And þis is verray soþ þat I ȝou telle
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A meller was þer duellyng many a day
As any pecok he was proud and gay
Pype he couþe and fissche and nettes beete
And torne coppes and wel wrastle and scheete /
Ay by his belt he bar a long Panade
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And of a swerd ful trenchant was þe blade /
A Ioly popper bar he in his pouche
Ther was noman for peril durste him touche /
A scheffeld thwitel bar he in his hose
Round was his face and Camuse was his nose /
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As pyled as an ape was his sculle /
He was a market betere atte fulle
Ther was no wight þat dorst hand on him legge
But if he swor he scholde anon abegge
A þeef he was forsoþe of corn and mele
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And þat a sleigh and vsaunt for to stele
His name was hoote deynous Symkyn
A wijf he hadde come of noble kyn
The persoun of þe toun hir fader was /
With hire he yaf ful many a panne of bras
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For þat Symkyn scholde in his blood allye
Sche was y fostred in a Nonnerie /
For symkyn wolde no wyf as he sayde
But sche were wel ynorissched and a mayde /
To sauen his estate of yomanrie /
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And sche was proud and pert as is a pye
A ful fair sight was it vppon hem tuo
On halidayes biforn hire wolde he go
Wiþ his typet wounden aboute his heede /
And sche cam after in a gyte of reede /
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And Symkyn hadde hosen of þe same
Ther dorste no wight clepen hire but dame
Was non so hardy þat wente by þe way
That wiþ hire dorste or ones rage or play
But if he wolde be slain of Symkyn