The Clerk's Tale
Folio 126v
3 of 28 folios
Bot aie þei wondren what sche myht be
1020
That in so pouer araye was for to se
And couþe suche honoure & reuerence
And worþely þe preised hire prudence
¶ In al þis men while sche ne stinte
This maiden & eke hir broþer to cōmende
1025
Wiþ al hir hert wiþ ful benynge entente
So wele þat noman couþe hir pise amende
Bot att þe laste whan þes lordes wende
To sitten doune att mette he gan to caƚƚ
Crisilde as sche was busy in his haƚƚ
1030
¶ Crisild qd he as it were in his pleie
Howe likeþ þe my wif & hire beaute
Riht wele qd sche my lorde for in goode feie
A feirer sawhe .I. neuer none þan sche
.I. prei to god ȝif ȝoue prosperite
1035
And so hope .I. þat he wil to ȝoue sende
Plesance ynowhe vnto ȝoure liues ende
¶ .O. þinge beseche .I. ȝowe & warne also
Þat ȝe prikke wiþ no turnementynge
Þis tender maiden as ȝe haue done mo
1040
For sche is fosterd in hir norischeinge
More tendrely & to my supposinge
Sche couþe nouht aduersite endure
As couþe a pore fostred creature
¶ And whan þis waltier sauhe hire pacience
1045
Hir glad chiere & no malece att al
And he so oft had done hire offence
And sche aye sadde & constante as a wal
Continuinge euer hire Innocens ouer al
This stordy Markes gan his hert dresse
1050
To rewen on hire wifly stedfastnesse
¶ This is ynouhe Crisild myne qd he
Be nowe no more agaste ne yuel apaide
.I. haue þi feiþe & þi benignite
As wele as euer wōman was assaide
1055
In grete astate & pouerly araide
Now knowe .I. dere wife þi stedfastnesse
And hir in armes toke & gan hir kesse
¶ And sche for wonder toke of it no kepe
Sche þouht nouht what þinge he to hir seide
1060
Sche ferde as sche had stert oute of hir slepe