The Prioress' Tale
Folio 202v
6 of 7 folios
170
Vp taken was syngyng his song alway
And with honour of gret processioū
Thay caried him vnto þe next abbay
His modir swownyng by þe beere lay
Vnneþe might þe poeple þat was þere
175
This newe Rachel bringe fro þe beere
With torment and with schamful deth echon
This prouost doþ þese Iewes for to sterue
That of þis moerder wist and þat anoon
He wolde no such cursednesse obserue
180
Euel schal haue þat euyl wol deserue
Therfore with wilde hors he dede hem drawe
And after þat he heng hem by þe lawe
Upon his beere ay lith þis Innocent
Biforn þe chief auter whiles þe masse last
185
And after þat þabbot with his couent
Haþ sped him for to burie him ful fast
And whan þay halywater on him cast
Ȝet spak þis child . whan spreynde was þe wat er
And song O alma redemptoris mater
190
This abbot which þat was an holy man
As monkes ben or elles oughte be
This ȝonge child to coniure he bigan
And sayd O deere childe I halse þe
In vertu of þe holy trinite
195
Tel me what is þy cause for to synge
Sith þat þy þrote is kit at my semynge
My þrote is kit vnto my nekke boon
Sayde þis child and as by way of kynde
I schulde han ben deed long tyme a goon
200
But Iħu crist as ȝe in bookes fynde
Wol þat his glorie laste and be in mynde
And for þe worschip of his moder deere
Ȝet may I synge . O alma lowde and cleere
This welle of mercy cristes moder swete /
205
I loued alway as after my connynge
And whan þat I my lyf schulde leete
To me sche cam and bad me for to synge