Words of the Host
Folio 259v
1 of 1 folios
Ye Archewyuys stondȳth at \yore/ defence
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Sȳ ȝe been stronge as is a greet Camayle
Ne sufferyth nat / þt men ȝow doon offence
And sklendere wyues feble as in batayle
Beeth egre as is a tigre ȝong in ȝouthe
Ay clappith as a melle I ȝow consayle
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Ne drede hem nat do hē no reuerence
For thow thȳ husbond / armede be in mayle
The arwis of thȳ crabbede eloquence
Schal perce his brest & ek his auētayle
In Ialusye I reede ek thow hȳ bynde
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And thow schat make hȳ couche as doth a quayle
If thow be fayr / ther folk been in persence
Schewe thu thyn visage & thȳ aparayle
Ȝif thow be foul be fre of thȳ dispence
To gete the frendys ay do thyn trauayle
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Be ay of chir as lyght as lef on lynde
And lat hȳ care & wepe & wrynge & wayle
Heere hath the clerk of Oxenforthe ended his tale
This worthi clerk whan endede was his tale
Oure ost seyde & swor by godys bonys
Me were leuere thā a barel ale
Mȳ wif at hō hadde herd this legēde onys
5
This was agentil tale for thenonys
As to mȳ purpos woste ȝe mȳ wille
But thyng that wil nat be lat it be stille