The Summoner's Tale
Folio 129r
2 of 18 folios
Xij. spokes haþ a carte whel comunly
550
And bringe me þanne xij freres wite ȝe why
For .xiij. is a couent as I gesse
Ȝoure confessour hede for his worþinesse
Schal parforme vp þe nombre of his couent
Þanne schullen þey knelen doū by oon assent
555
And to euery spokes ende in þis manere
Ful sadly leye his nose schal þe freere
Ȝoure noble confessour þere god him saue
Schal holde his nose vpright vnto þe naue
Þanne schal þis cherl wiþ bely styf and touȝt
560
As any tabour hider ben y brought
And sette him on þe wheel right on þis carte
Vpon þe naue and make him lete a farte
And ȝe schuln se vp peril of my lijf
By preof which þat is demonstratif
565
Þat equaly þe soun of hit wole wende
And eeke þe stynke vnto þe spokes ende
Saue þat þis worþi man þis confessor
By cause he is a man of gret honour
Schal haue þe ferste fruytes as resoū is
570
Þe noble vsage of freres ȝit is þis
Þe worþy men of hem schuln ferst be serued
And certeinly he haþ it wel disserued
He haþ to day taugħt vs so mochil good
Wiþ preching in þe pulpit þer he stood
575
Þat I may vouche sauf I say for me
He hadde þe firste smelle of fartes þre
And so wolde aƚƚ his couent hardily
He bereþ him so faire and holyly
Þe lord þe lady & eche man saue þe Frere
580
Sayden þat Iankyn spak in þis matiere
As wel as euclide or ítholome
Touchinge þe cherle þey seyden subtilite
And by heyh witte make him speke as he spake
He is no fool ne no demonyake