The Monk's Prologue
Folio 351r
1 of 2 folios
For I am perlioƫ with knyf in honde
Al be it that I dar nat hire with stonde
For sche is big in armys by myn feyth
That schal he fynde that hire mys doth or seyth
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But lat vs passe a way frō this matiere
Myn lord the Monk be merye of cheere
For ȝe schul telle a tale trewely
Lo rouchestre stant heere fasteby
Ryde forth myn owene lord / brek nat oure game
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But by mȳ trouthe I knowe nat ȝoure name
Wher schal I calle ȝow mȳ lord daund Ioħn
Or daū Thomas or ellis daū Alboū
Of what hous be ȝe by ȝore fadyr kyn
I voue to god thow hast a ful fayr skyn
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It is a gentyl pasture theere thow gost
Thow art nat lyk a penaūt or a gost
Vp on mȳ feyth thow art sū offyseer
Sū worthi Sexteyn or sū Celereer
For by mȳ fadyrsoule as to mȳ doom
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Thow art a maystyr whā thow art at hō
No poore Cloysterer ne nō nouys
But a gouernor worthy & wis
And therwithal of braun & of bonys
A weel farȳge persone for thenonys
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I preye to god ȝeue hē confusioū
That ferst the brouȝte vn to relygeou
Thow woldyst a been a tredefowel aryȝt
Haddyst thow as greet a leue as thow hast myght
To parforne al this lust in engēdernge
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Thow haddyst begetyn manye a creature
Allas why werys thow so syd a cope
God ȝeue me sorwe but and I were a pope
Nat only thow but euery myghty man
Thow he were schore hye vp on his pan
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Schulde hā a wif for al the world is lorn
Religeous hath takyn vp al the corñ