The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 209r
26 of 29 folios
Parfay thouȝte he fantome is in mȳ hed
940
I ogħte deme of ryȝtful iugement
That in þe salte se mȳ wif is ded
And aftyr he made hise argument
What wot I if þt cist hath hire I sent
Mȳ wif be se as wel as he hire sente
945
To myn cuntre frō þens þt sche wēte
And aftyr non hō with þe senator
Goth alla for to se þis wondyr chaūce
This senatour doth alla gret honour
And hastilyche he sente aftyr custaūce
950
But trustyth wel hire lyste not to daūce
Whan þt sche wiste wherfore was þt sonde
Oneþe vp on hire feet sche myȝte stōde
Whan Alla saw his wif fayre he hire grette
And wep þt it was routhe for to sen
955
For at þe ferste lok he on hyre sette
He knewe wel verayly þt it was sche
And sche for sorwe as doumb stant as a tre
So was hire herte set in distresse
Whā sche remēbrede hys vnkyndenesse
960
Twyes sche swoūnyth in hise owene syghit
He wepte & hȳ excuseth pitously
Now god quod he & hise halwis bryȝte
So wisely on myn soule as haue mercy
That of ȝoure harm as gilteles am I
965
As is Mauryce myn sone so lyk ȝoure face
Ellis þe fend me feche out of þis place
Long was þe sobyng & þe bittere peyne
Er þt hire woful hertis myȝtȳe cesse
Gret was þe pyte for to here hē pleyne
970
Thorgh whiche pleyntis gan hire wo encrese
I prey ȝow of mȳ labor to relese
I may nat telle here wo vn tyl to morwe
I am so wery for to speke of sorwe