The Squire's Tale
Folio 284v
16 of 16 folios
That fortune wolde that he muste twynne
570
Out of that place which that he is inne
Where me was woo that is no questyoū
I can not make of it discripcioū
For on thyng dar I telle baldely
I knowe what is the peyne of deth therby
575
Swich harm I felte for he ne myȝte beleue
So on a day of me he tok his leue
So sorwefully ek that I wēde verrayly
That he hade felt as meche harm as I
Whan that I herde hȳ speke & saw his hewe
580
But natheles I thoute he was so trewe
And ek that he repeyre schulde ageyn
W inne a lytil while sotth to seyn
And resoū wolde ek that he moste go
For his honor as ofte it happith so
585
That I maade vertu of necescitee
And tok it weel sȳ that it muste bee
As I best myghte I hidde frō hȳ mȳ sorwe
And tok hȳ by the hond seynt Ioħn to borw
And seyde hȳ thus lo I am ȝourys alle
590
Beth swich as I to ȝow haue been & schalle
What he answerde it nedyth not reherce
Who can seye bet thā he / ho can sey werse
Whan he hath al I seyd thāne hath he don
Therefore byhouyth hire a ful long spon
595
That schulde ete with a feend thus haue I herd seye
So at the laste he mote forth his weye
And forth he flyeth til he cā there hȳ leste
Whā it cam hȳ to purpos for to reste
I trowe he hadde thilke tyxt in mynde
600
That alle thȳge repeyrynge to hise kynde
Gladyth hȳ self thus seye men as I gesse
Men loue of propyr kynde newefangilnesse
As bryddys don that men in cage feede
For thow thu nyȝt & day of hē take heede
605
And strawe hyre xxxx cage / as softe as ony silk
And ȝeue hȳ sugere hony breed & Mylk