The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 72v
2 of 29 folios
Thy selue neyghebour wol þe despyse
If þou be pore far wel þy reuerence
Ȝet of þe wyse man tak þis sentence
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Aƚƚ þe dayes of pore men be wikke /
Be war þerfore or þou come to þe prikke
Ȝif þou be pore þy broþer hateþ þe
And aƚƚ þy frendes fleeþ fro þe allas
O Riche marchaūdz ful of wele be ȝe
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O noble prudent folk as in þis cas
Ȝoure bagges beþ nat fuld wiþ ambes aas
But wiþ sys synk þat renneþ on ȝour chaunce
At crystemasse wel mery may ȝe daunce
Ȝe seeke land and see for ȝoure wynnynges
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As wyse folk as ȝe knowe aƚƚ þastates
Of regnes / ȝe be fadres of tydynges
Of tales boþe of pees and of debates /
I were right now of tales desolat
Nere þat a marchaūt gon siþþen many a ȝere /
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Me taugħt a tale which ȝe schal aft er heere
IN Surrie dwelled whilom a companye
Of Chapmen riche and þerto sad and trewe
That wyde where sent her spycere
Cloþes of gold and satyn riche of hewe /
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Her chaffar was so þrifty and so newe
That euery wigħt had deynte to chaffare
Wiþ hem and eek to selle hem of here ware /
Now fel it þat þe maystres of þat sort
Han schapen hem to Rome for to wende
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Were it for chapmāhode or for disport
Non oþer message nolde þey þider sende /
But came hemself to Rome þis is þe ende
And in such place / as þougħt hem auauntage
For here entent þey tooke her herburgage
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Soiourned haue þese marchaūtz in þe toun
A certeyn tyme as fel to here plesaunce
But so bifell þat þexcellent renoun
Of þemperoures douȝt er dame Custaūce
Reported was with euery circumstaūce