The Franklin's Tale
Folio 161v
10 of 11 folios
And him bysecheth of his gentilesce
To gaunte him dayes of þe remenaunt
860
And sayde maister I dar wel make auaunt
I fayled neuer of my trouþe as ȝit
For sikerly my dettes schal be quyt
Towardes ȝow how þat euer I fare
To goon a begge in my kurtil bare
865
But wolde ȝe vouche sauf vpon seurte
Tuo ȝer or þre for to respite me
Than were I wel for elles most I selle
Myn heritage þer is nomore to telle
¶ Þis philosophre sobrely answerde /
870
And seyde þus whan he þese wordes herde
Haue I not holden couenaunt vnto þe ;
Ȝis certes wel and trewely quod he /
Hastow nouȝt had þy lady as þe likeþ
No no quod / he and sorwfully he sikeþ
875
What was þe cause tel me if þou can
Aurilius his tale anoon bygan
And told him al as ȝe han herd bifore
It needeþ nat to ȝou reherse it more
He sayde arueragus of gentilesse
880
Had leuer dye in sorwe and in distresse
Than þat his wyf were of hir trouþe fals
The sorwe of Dorigen he tolde him als
How loþ hir was to ben a wikked wikked wyf
And þat sche leuer had han lost hir lyf
885
And þat hir trouþe sche swor þurgħ Innocence
Sche neuer erst hadde herd speke of apparence
That made me han of hir so gret pyte
By cause hir housebond sente hir to me
And right as frely sent I hir to him agayn
890
Þis is al and som þer is no more to sayn
This philosopher answerde leue broþer
Euerich of ȝow dede gentilly to oþer
Thow art a squyer and he is a knigħt
But god forbede for his blisful migħt
895
But if a clerk couþe doon as gentil dede