The Monk's Prologue
Folio 226v
2 of 3 folios
That schal he fynde þat hire mys doth or saith
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But let vs passe a way fro þis matiere
My lord þe monk quod he be mery of chere
For ȝe schul telle a tale trewely
Lo Rowchestre stant heer faste by
Ryde forþ myn oughne lord brek nouȝt oure game
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But by my trouþe I can not ȝoure name
Wheþer schal I calle ȝow my lord dan Ioħn
Or daun Thomas or elles dan albon
Of what hous be ȝe by ȝour fader kyn
I vow to god þou hast a ful fair skyn
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It is a gentil pasture þer þou gost
Thow art not lik a penaunt or a goost
Vpon my faith þou art an officer
Som worþy sexteyn or som Celerer
For by my fader soule as to my doome
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Thou art an officer whan þou art at hoom
No pouer cloysterer ne non nouys
But a gouernour wily and wys
And þer wiþ al of brawne and of bones
A wel faryng persone for þe noones
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I praye god ȝiue him confusiou~
Þat first þe brouȝte to religiou~
Thow woldist han be a tredefoul arigħt
Haddist þou as gret a leue as migħt
To parforme al þi wil in engendrure
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Thow haddist bigeten many a creature
Allas why werest þou so wyd a cope
God ȝif me sorwe and I were a pope /
Nougħt only þou but euery mighty man
Though he were schore brode vpon his pan
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Schuld han a wif for al þis world is lorn
Religioun hath take vp al þe corn
Of tredyng and we burel men ben schrympes
Of feble trees þer comeþ feble ympes
This makiþ þat oure heires ben so sclender
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And feble þat þay may not wel engender
This makeþ þat oure wyfes wol assaye