The Summoner's Tale
Folio 110v
5 of 17 folios
And after þat a rostyd pigges heed
But þat I wold for me no best were deed
135
Than had I wiþ ȝow homly suffisaunce
I am a man of litel sustinaunce
My spirit haþ his fostryng on þe bible /
Þe body is ay so redy and penyble
To wake þat my stomak is destroyed
140
I pray ȝow dame þat ȝe be not anoyed
For I so frendly ȝow my counseil schewe
By I nold not telle it but a fewe /
Now sir quod sche but o word er I go
My child is deed wiþinne þise wykes tuo
145
Soon after þat ȝe went out of þis toun
His deth saugħ I by reuelaciou~
Sayde þis frere at hoom in oure dortor
I dar wel sayn er þat half an hour
After his deth . I seigħ him born to blisse
150
In myn auysioun so god me wisse
So did our sextem . and our fermerere
That han ben trewe freres many a ȝere
Þay may now god be thanked of his lone
Maken her Iubile . and walk alloone
With many a teere trilling on my cheeke
Wiþouten noys or clateryng of bellis
Te deū was our song and no þing ellis
Saue þat to crist I sayd an orisoun
160
Thankyng him of my reuelaciou~
For sire and dame trustith me right wel
Our orisouns ben more effectuel
And more we se of goddis secre þinges
Than borel folk al þough þat þay ben kinges
165
We lyue in pouert and in abstinence
And borel folk in riches and dispence
Of mete and drink and in her ful delyt
We han al þis worldes delit in despyt
Lazar and diues lyueden diuersly
170
And diuers guerdoū hadde þey þerby who so wil pay