The Nun's Priest's Prologue
Folio 237v
1 of 3 folios
HO sire quod þe knigħt no more of þis
That ȝe han said is right ynougħ y wys
And mochil mor . for litel heuynesse
Is right I nougħ for moche folk I gesse /
I say for me it is a gret disease
Wher as men han ben in gret welþe and ease
To hieren of her sodeyn fal allas
And þe contraire is ioye and gret solas
As whan a man haþ ben in pore estate
And clymbith up and wexeþ fortunate
And þer abydeþ in prosperite
Such þing is gladsom as þinkith me
And of such þing were goodly for to telle
Ȝe quod oure host by seinte paules belle
Ȝe say right soþ þis monk haþ clappid lowde /
He spak how fortune was clipped with a clowde
I not neuer what and als of tregedie
Rigħt now ȝe herd and pardy no remedye
It is for to bywayle or compleyne
That þat is doon and also it is a peyne
As ȝe han said to hiere of heuynesse /
Sire monk no more of þis . so god ȝour soule blesse
Ȝour tale anoyeth al þis compaigne
Such a tale is nouȝt wortħ a boterflye
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For þer Inne is noon disport ne game
Wherfor sir monk . damp Pieres by ȝour name
I pay ȝow hertly tel vs som what ellis
For sicurly ner gingling of þe bellis
Þat on ȝour bridil hong on euery syde
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By heuen king þat for vs alle dyde
I schold er þis han falle doun for sleep
Al þough þe slough had neuer ben so deep
Than had ȝour tale . haue be told in vayn
For certeynly as þese clerkes sayn
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Wher as a man may haue noon audience
Nought helpith it to tellen his sentence
And wel I wot þe substance is in me
If eny þing schal wel reported be