The Friar's Tale
Folio 232v
8 of 8 folios
I may not goon quod sche so fer ne ryde
295
But I be ded so prykyth it in myn syde
May I not axe a libel syre somenour
And answere þere by myn procatour
To swich thyng as men wele oposyn me
Ȝis quod this somenour pay a non lat se
300
Twelue penys lat se & I wele þe aquyte
I schal no profyit haue þerby but lyte
Myn maystir hath the profit & not I
Come of & let me rydyn hastely
Ȝeue me twelve penys I may no lengere lette
305
Twelue penys quod sche now lady seynte marye
So wysely helpe me out of care & sȳne
This wyde world þow þt I schulde wȳne
Ne haue I not twelue penys wt inne mȳ holld
Ȝe knowe wel þt I am pore & old
310
Kythe ȝoure almesse on me pore wreche
Nay þāne quod he þe fend me feche
Ȝif I þe excuse thw þow schuldist be spylt
Allas quod sche god wot I haue no gilt
Pay me quod he or be swete seynte anne
315
As I wele bere a wey þȳ newe pāne
For dette whiche þu owist me of old
Whan þt þu haddist þȳ husbonde coukewold
I payede at hom for þȳ coreccioun
Thow lyxt quod sche be myn sauacyoū
320
Ne was I neuere er no wedewe ne wyf
Somounede on to ȝoure court in al mȳ lyf
Ne neuere I nas but of myn body trewe
Vn to þe deuyl blak & row of hewe
Ȝeue I thȳ body & myn pāne also
325
And whan þe deuyl herde hire curse so
Vp on hire kneis sche seyde on þis manere
Now mabelyn myn owene modir dere
Is þis ȝoure wille in ernest þt ȝe seye
The deuel quod sche so feche hȳ er he deye
330
And pāne & al but he wele hȳ repēte
Nay olde stot þt is not myn entente