The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 52r
5 of 27 folios
¶ Now wolde som men / waiten as I gesse
That I sholde tellen / al the prueiance
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That themperour / of his grete noblesse
Hath shapen / for his doghter Dame Custance
Wel may men knowen / þt so greet ordinance
May no man tellen / in a litel clause
As was arrayed / for so heigh a cause
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Bisshopes been shapen / with hir for to wende
Lordes / ladies / knyghtes of renoun
And oother folk ynogh / this is thende
And notified is / thurgħ out the toun
That euery wigħt / with greet deuocioun
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Sholde preyen crist that he this mariage
Receyue in gree / and spede this viage
¶ The day is comen / of hir departynge
I seye / the woful day fatal is come
That ther may be / no lenger tariynge
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But forthward / they hem dressen / alle and some
Custance / þt was with sorwe al ouercome
Ful pale arist and dresseth hir to wende
For wel she seeth / ther is noon oother ende
Allas / what wonder is it thogh she wepte
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That shal be sent / to strange nacioū
Fro freendes þt so tendrely hir kepte
And to be bounden / vnder subieccioū
Of oon / she knoweth nat his condicioū
Housbondes been alle goode / and han ben yoore
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That knowen wyues / I dar sey yow namoore
¶ Fader she seyde / thy wrecched child Custance
Thy yonge dogħter / fostred vp so softe
And ye my mooder / my souerayn plesance
Ouer alle thyng out taken crist on lofte
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Custance youre child / hir recomandeth ofte
Vn to youre grace / for I shal to Surrye
Ne shal I neuere / seen yow moore with eye
Allas / vn to the Barbre nacioū
I moste goon / syn that it is youre wille
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But crist that starf / for oure sauacioū
So yeue me grace / hise heestes to fulfille
I wrecche wōman / nofors / though I spille
Wōmen are born / to thraldom and penance
And to been / vnder mannes gouernance