The Second Nun's Tale
Folio 379v
12 of 14 folios
But we that knowen thilke name
For vertuous we may it not with seye
Almache answerde chees on of these two
Do sacrifise & cristendam reneye
460
That thow mowe escape by that weye
At which this holy blysful fayre mayde
Gan for to laughe & to the Iuge sayde
O Iuge confus in thȳ nycete
Wilt thow that I reneye Innocence
465
To makyn me a wikkede wight quod sche
Lo he dissimulyth here in audience
He starith & wodit in hise aduertence
To whō Almachi ë onsely wreche
Ne wost thow not how fer \myn/ mygh may streche
470
Han not oure mighti prȳcis to me ȝeuyn
Ȝe boothe power & autorite
To makyn folk to deyin or to leuyn
Whi spekist thow so proudely thāne to me
I speke noght but stedefastly quod sche
475
Nat proudely I seye as for mȳ side
We hatȳ dedly thilke vice of pryde
And ȝif thow dreede nat a soth to heere
Thāne wele I schewe al opȳly be ryght
That thow hast mad a ful greet lesyng heere
480
Thow seyst thȳne pryncis han the ȝouȳ myght
Bothe for to slen & for to quekȳ a wight
Thow that ne mayst but only lyf bereue
Thow hast non othir power ne no leue
But thow mayst seyn thȳne pryncis hā the makid
485
Ministre of deth / for ȝif thow speke of me
Thow lyist for thȳ power is ful nakyd
Do wey thȳ boldenesse seyde Almathi ë thoo
And sacrifise to the goddis er thow go
I reche nat what wrong that thow me profere
490
For I cā suffere it as a Philosophere