The Clerk's Tale
Folio 117v
3 of 32 folios
Were alle his liegis boþe lesse and more
Thus in delyt he lyueth and hath don ȝore
Biloued and drad þurgh fauour and fortune
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Boþe of his lordes and of his comune
Ther with he was as to speke of lynage
A fair persone . and strong and ȝong of age /
And ful of honour and of curtesie /
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Discret ynougħ his contre for to gye
Sauynge in som þing he was to blame
And wautier was þis ȝonge lordes name
I blame him thus that he considered nougħt
In tyme comyng what mighte bityde
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But on his lust present was al his þougħt
As for to hauke and hunte on euery syde /
Wel neigh al oþir cures let he slyde
And eek he nolde þat was þe was þe worst of al
Wedde no wyf for no þing þat might bifal
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Only þat poynt his poeple bar so sore
That flokmel on a day to him þay went
And oon of hem that wisest was of lore
Or elles þat þe lord wolde best assent
That he schuld telle him what his poeple ment
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Or ellis couþe he schewe wel such matiere
He to þe marquys sayd as ȝe schuln hiere
O noble marquys . ȝoure humanite
Assureth vs and ȝiueth vs hardynesse
As ofte as tyme is of necessite
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That we to ȝow may telle oure heuynesse
Acceptith lord now of ȝour necessite
That we with pitous hert vnto ȝow playne
And let ȝoure eeris my vois not disdeyne
And haue I nougħt to doon in þis matere
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More þan anoþer mā haþ in þis place
Ȝit for as moche as ȝe my lord so deere
Han alway schewed me fauour and grace
I dar þe better ask of ȝow a space
And audience to asken oure request