The Monk's Tale
Folio 352r
1 of 22 folios
Here begȳnyth the Monk his tale
Wole be wayle in manere of Tragedie
The harm of hem that stood in hey degre
And fellyn so that theere nas no remedie
To brynge hē out of here aduercitee
5
For certeyn whan that fortune leste to fle
Theere may no man the cours of hire withholde
Lat not man truste on blynd prosperitee
By war by these exsaūplys trewe & olde
At lucyfer thow he an aūgel weere
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And not a man at hȳ I wele begynne
For thow fortune may noon aūgel deere
Frō higħ degre ȝit fel he for his sȳne
Doū in to helle where as he ȝit is inne
O lucifer bryȝteste / of aūgeƚƚ alle
15
Now art thow satenas that mayst not twȳne
Out of myserie / in which that thow art falle
Loo Adam in the feeld of damassene
With goddys owene fyngyr mad was hee
And not begetyn of manys sperme onclene
And welte al paradys sauȳge on tree
Hadde neuere wordely man so heigh degree
As adam tyl he for mysgouernaūce
Was dreue out of his hye prosperite
To labour & to helle & to myschaūce