The Monk's Tale
Folio 237r
21 of 21 folios
645
But such a rayn doun fro þe heuen schadde
That slough þe fuyr and made him to eschape
But to be war ȝet grace noon he hadde /
Til fortune on þe galwes made him gape
Whan he was eschaped he couþe nouȝt / stent
650
For to bygynne a newe werre agayn
He wende wel for þat fortune him sent
Such hap þat he eschaped þurgh þe rayn
That of his foos he migħte not be slayn
And eek a sweuen vpon a night he mette
655
Of which he was so proud and eek so fayn
That in vengeaunce he al his herte sette /
Upon a tree he was set as him þouȝt
Wher Iubiter him wissch boþe bak and side
And phebus eek a fair towail him brouȝt
660
To drye him with and þerfore wax his pride
And to his douȝter þat stood him biside
Which þat he knew in heigh science abounde /
He bad hire telle him what it signifyde
And sche his dreem right þus gan expounde /
665
The tree quod sche þe galwes is to mene
And Iubiter likenith snow and rayn
And phebus with his towail so clene
Tho ben þe sonne stremes soþ to sayn
Thow schalt enhangid ben fader certayn
670
Rayn schal þe wasch and sonne schal þe drye
Thus warned sche him ful plat and ek ful playn
His doughter which þat called was phanie
And hanged was Cresus þis proude king
His real tour migħt him not auaile /
675
Tegredis ne noon oþer maner þing
Ne can I synge crie ny biwayle
But for þat fortune wil alway assayle
Wiþ vnwar strook þe regnes þat ben proude
For whan men trusteþ hir þan wil sche faile
680
And couer hir brighte face with a clowde
¶ Here endeþ þe monk his tale
¶ & here bygȳne þe pro- loge of þe Nonne prestes tale . of þe kok and þe hen .