Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale
Folio 194r
1 of 2 folios
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And þerfore by þe schadewe he tok hese wit
That Phebus which þt schon so cler & bryȝt
Degreis fyue & forty I clōbe on hyȝt
And for þt day as in þt latytude
It was ten of þe clok he gā cōclude
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And sodeynly he plyȝte hese hors a boute
lordȳgis quod he I warne ȝow al þis route
The fourte party of þis day is gon
Now for þe loue of god & seynt Ioħn
Leseth no tyme as fer forth as ȝe may
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Lordȳgis it wastyth nyȝt & day
And stelyth frō vs what piuyly slepȳge
And what þerwith neclygence In oure wakȳge
As doth þe strē þt turnyth neuere a geyn
Dessendȳge frō þe monteyn In to pleyn
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Wel can senykele & manye a phylisofere
Bewaylȳ tyme more þā gold in cofere
For los of catel may recouerede be
But los of tyme schendyth vs quod he
It wele not come a geyn wt outȳ drede
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No more þā wele malkenys maydȳhede
Whā sche hath lost it in here wātoūnesse
Let vs not moulyn þus in ydylnesse
Syre man of lawe so haue ȝe blys
Telle vs a tale now as forward is
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Ȝe ben submyttit þor ȝoure fre assent
To stōdȳ in þis cas at mȳ Iugement
A quytħt ȝow now of ȝoure be heste
Þāne haue ȝe don ȝoure deuyr at þe leste
Host quod he deperdeux I assente
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To brekyn forward is not mȳ entente
Byheste is dette & I wele holde fayn
Al mȳbeheste I cā no betere seyn
For swich lawe as man ȝeuyth a noþer wyȝt
He schulde hȳ selue vse it be rigħt
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Thus wele oure tyxt / but natheles serteyn