Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale
Folio 71v
2 of 3 folios
HOst quod he deperdeux I assent
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To breke forward is nat myn entent /
Byheste is dette and I wol holde fayn
Al my byhest I can no better sayn
For such lawe as a man ȝeueþ anoþer wigħt
He schuld him selue vsen hit by rigħt
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Thus wol oure text but naþeles certeyn
I can right now non oþer tale seyn
That Chaucer þey he can but lewedly
On metres and on Rymyng certeynly
Haþ seyd hem in such englisch as he can
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Of olde tyme as knoweþ many man
And ȝif he haue nouȝt seyd hem leeue broþer
In O bok he haþ seyd hem in anoþer
For he haþ told of louers vp and dou~
Moo þan Ovide made of menciou~
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In his Epistelles þat ben so olde
What schuld I tellen hem syn þey be tolde
In ȝouþe he made of Coys and alciou~
And siþþe haþ he spoke of euerychon
These noble wyfes and þese louers eeke
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Who so wole his large volume seeke
Cleped þe seintes legendes of Cupide
Ther may he see þe large woundes wyde
Of lucresse and of Babilou Tysbee
The sorwe of Dido for þe fals Enee
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The tree of philles for hir demephon
The pleynt of Dyane and of Ermyon
Of Adrian and of ysyphilee
The barreyn yle stondyng in þe see /
The dreynt leander for hir Erro
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The teeres of Eleyn and eek þe woo
Of bryxseyde and of ledomia
The cruelte of þe queen Medea
The litel children hangyng by þe hals
For þilke Iason þat was of loue so fals
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O ypermystre penollope and alceste /
Ȝoure wyfhood he comendeth wiþ þe beste