The Summoner's Prologue
Folio 108r
1 of 2 folios
But for to kepe vs fro þat cursed place
Wakith and prayeth iħu for his grace
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So kepe vs fro þe temptour Sathanas
Herknith þis word . beþ war as in þis cas
The lyoun syt in his awayt alway
To slen þe Innocent if þat he may
Disposith ȝoure hertes to wiþstonde
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The fend þat wolde make ȝow þral and bonde /
He may not tempte ȝow ouer ȝour migħt
For crist wol be ȝour champioū and knigħt
And prayeth þat oure sompnor him repente
Of his mys dede . er þat þe fend him hente .
¶ Here endith þe frere his tale
¶ And here bygynneth þe sompnor his prologe
This sompnour in his styrop vp he stood
Vpon þe frere his herte was so wood
Þat lyk an aspen leef / he quok for Ire
Lordyngs quod he . but oon þing I desire
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I ȝow biseke þat of ȝour curtesye
Syn ȝe han herd þis false frere lye
As suffrith me I may my tale telle
This frere bosteth þat he knowith helle
And god it wot . þat is litil wonder
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Freres and feendes been but litel asonder
For pardy ȝe han often tyme herd telle /
How þat a frere rauyscht was to helle /
In spirit ones by a visiou~
And as an aungel lad him vp and doū
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To schewen him þe peynes þat þer were
In al þe place saugh he not a frere
Of oþer folk he saugh ynowe in wo
Vnto þis aungel spak þis frere þo
Now sire quod he han freres such a gace
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That noon of hem schal comen in þis place
Ȝis quod þis aungil many a mylioun
And vnto Sathanas he lad him doun
And now haþ sathanas saith he a tayl
Broder þan of a Carrik is þe sayl