The Second Nun's Tale
Folio 373v
2 of 14 folios
50
Assembled is in the magnyficence
With mercy goodnesse & swich pete
That thow that art the sūne of excellence
Nat only helpist hē that preyen the
But ofte tyme of thȳ benygnetee
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Ful frely er that men thȳ helpe be seche
Thow gost by forn & art oure lyuys leche
Now help thow meke & blysful fayre mayde
Me flemede wreche in this desert of galle
Thynk on the woman Canane that sayde
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That whelpis etȳ some of the cromys alle
That frō hire lordis table been I falle
And thow that I onworthi sone of eue
Be synful ȝit accepte mȳ beleue
And for that feyth is deed with outȳ werkis
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So for to werkyn ȝeue me wit & space
That I be quyt frō thens that most derk is
O thow that art so fayr & ful of grace
Be myn aduocat in that hyge place
Theere that withoutȳ ende is sūge osanne
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Thow cristis modir doughtir deere of Anne
And of thȳ grace mȳ soule in prisoū lighte
That troblid is bi the cogitacioū
Of myn body & also by the whighte
Of ertheli lust & fals affeccioū
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O hauē of refut / o saluacioū
Of hem that been in sorwe & in distresse
Now help for to myn werk I wele me dresse
Ȝit preye ych ȝow þt redȳ that I wryte
For ȝeue me that I do / no diligence
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This ilke story / subtily tendite
For bothe haue I / the wordis & the sentēce
Of hȳ that at the / seyntis reuerence
The storye wrot / & folwe hire legēde
And preye ȝow that ȝe / wele mȳ werk amēde