The Franklin's Tale
Folio 158v
4 of 11 folios
630
But wel I wot þe rokkes ben aweye
He takeþ his leue and he astoned stood
In aƚƚ hir face nas oon drop of blood
Sche wende neuer haue be in such a trappe
Allas quod sche þat euer þis schulde happe
635
For wend I neuer by possibilite
That such a monstre or merueyl mighte be /
It is agayns þe proces of nature
And hom sche goþ a sorwful creature
For verray fere vnneþe may sche go
640
Sche wepeþ wayleþ al a day or tuo
And swowneþ þat it rouþe was to see /
But why it was to no wight tolde sche
For out of toune was goon aruegarius
But to hir self sche spak / and sayde þus
645
Wiþ face pale and with ful sorwful chiere
In hir compleignt as ȝe schul after hiere
Allas quod sche on þe fortune I pleyne
That vnwar / wrapped me hast in þy cheyne
Fro which tescape woot I no socour
650
Saue oonly deþ or elles dishonour
Oon of þese tuo bihoueth me to chese /
But naþeles ȝet haue I leuer leese
My lif þan of my body to haue schame
Or knowe my selue fals or lese my name /
655
And with my deþ I may be quyt I wys
Hath þer not many a noble wyf er þis /
And many a mayden slayn hir self allas
Raþer þan with her body doon trespas /
Ȝis certeynly lo stories beren witnes
660
Whan þritty tirauntz ful of cursednes
Hadde slayn phidon in athenes atte fest
Thay comaunded his doughtres to arest
And bryngen hem biforn hem in despit
And naked to fulfille her foule delyt
665
In her fadres blood þey made hem daunce
Vpon þe pauyment god ȝeue hem meschaunce
For which þese woful maydens ful of drede