Lenvoye de Chaucer
Folio 132r
1 of 2 folios
It were ful hard to fynde / now a dayes
1165
As Grisildes in al a toun þre or tuo
For if þat þay were put to such assayes
The gold of hem haþ now so badde alayes
With bras þat þough þe coyn be fair at ye
Hit wolde raþer brest in tuo þan plye /
1170
For which heer for þe wyues loue of bathe
Whos lyf and aƚƚ of hir secte god meyntene
In high maistry and elles were it scathe
I wil with lusty herte freisch and grene /
Say ȝow a song to glade ȝow I wene
1175
And lat vs stynt of ernestful matiere
Herknith my song . þat saith in þis manere /
GRisild is deed and eek hir pacience
And bothe at oones buried in Itayle
For whiche I crye in open audience /
No weddid man so hardy be to assayle
5
His wyues pacience in hope to fynde
Grisildes for in certeyn he schal fayle
O noble wyues ful of heigh prudence /
Let noon humilite ȝour tonges nayle
Ne lat no clerk haue cause or diligence
10
To write of ȝow a story of such meruayle /
As of Grisildes pacience and kynde
Lest Chichuiache ȝow swolwe in hir entraile
Folwith Ecco þat holdith no silence
But euer answereth at þe countretayle
15
Beþ nouȝt bydaffed for ȝour Innocence
But scharply tak on ȝow þe gouernayle
Empryntith wel þis lessoun in ȝour mynde
For comun profyt sith it may auayle
Ȝe archewyues stondith at defens
20
Syn ȝe ben strong as is a greet Chamayle
Ne suffre not þat men ȝow don offens
And sclendre wydewes felle as in batayle
Beth egre as is a Tyger ȝond in Inde
Ay clappith as a mylle I ȝow counsaile