The Clerk's Tale
Folio 114v
27 of 28 folios
Tel vs sum mery tale be ȝoure feie
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For what man is entrede in to pleie
He nedes mote vnto þe plaie assent
Bot preches nouht as freres done in lente
To make vs for oure olde sinnes wepe
Ne þat þi tale Make us nouht to slpe
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Teƚƚ vs sum Mery þinge Of Auentures
Ȝoure termes ȝoure coloures ȝoure figures
Kepe hem in store til so be ȝe enditen
Hihe stylede as whan þat men to kinges writen
Spekeþ so pleine att þis time .I. ȝou preie
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That we may vnderstonde what ȝe seie
¶ Þis worþi clerke benyg~ly ansewerd
Oste qd he .I. am vnder ȝoure ȝerde
Ȝe haue of vs as noue þe gouernance
And þerfore wil .I. do ȝowe obeissance
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As fer as reson axeþ hardely
.I. wiƚƚ ȝowe tel a tale whiche þat .I.
Lerened att Paradouse of a worþi clerke
As peruede be his worde & his werk
He is nowe dede & nailed in his chist
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.I. praie to god ȝif his soule good ryst
Fraunces Petrak þe Laureat poet
Hiht þis clerke whos rethorik swoet
Enlumyned al. ytaile of Potrie
As Linian dide of Philosophie
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Or lawe or oþer arte particulere
Bote þat wil nouht suffur dweƚƚ here
Bot as it were a twynklinge of an eye
Hem boþee haþe & al schal we dye
Bot for to teƚƚ of þis worþi man
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Þat tauht me þis tale as he gan
.I. seie þat wiþ hyhe stile first enditeþ
Or he þe body of his tale writeþ
A prohemye in þe whiche descriueþ he
Pymonde & of Saluces þe Contre
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And spekeþ of Appenyne þe hulles hihe
Þat buen þe boundes of lumbardie
And of þe mounte vesulus in special
Where as þe poe out of a wel smal
Takeþ his first springeinge & his sours
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Þat estward ay encreseþ in his cours