The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 198v
6 of 29 folios
Inprudent Emperor of Rome allas
Whas þere no philisophere in al thȳ toun
Is no tyme bet þan oþer in swich cas
Of viage is þere non eleccioū
215
And namely to folk of high cōdicioū
Nat whan a rote is of a burthe I knowe
Allas we ben to lewede & to slowe
To schip is brouȝt this woful fayre mayde
Solempnely with euery circūstaūce
220
Now Ihū cist be with ȝow alle sche seade
There is namore but fare wel fayre Custaunce
Sche peynyth here to make good cuntenaūce
And forth I lete here sayle in this manere
And turne I wele a geyn to myn matere
225
The modyr of the soudon welle of vices
Espyed hath here sonys pleyn entente
How he wolde lete his olde sacrifises
And ryȝt a non sche for here conseyl sente
And they be come to knowe what sche mente
230
And whan assembelede were þe folk en feere
Sche sette here doun & seyde as ȝe schal here
Lordys quod sche ȝe heryn euerychon
How þt myn sone in poynt is for to lete
The holy lawis of oure alkaron
235
Ȝeuen be goddys message Makomete
But on a wow to grete god I heete
The lyf schal raþere out of myn body sterte
Or makometes lawe out of myn herte
What schulde vs tydyn of this newe lawe
240
But thraldā to oure bodyis & penaūce
And aftyr in helle for to be drawe
For we reneyede mahoū xxx oure cr\e/aūce
But lordis wele ȝe makyn a suraūce
As I schal seyn assentȳge to myn lore
245
And I schal make vs saf for euere more