The Friar's Tale
Folio 103v
7 of 9 folios
Rode for to somne a holde wif a ribibe
Feynein a cause for he wald bribe
And happed þat he sauhe to for him ride
80
A gaie ȝoman vnder a forest side
A bowe he bare & arwes briht & kene
He had vpon a courteby of grene
An hatte vpon his hede wiþ fenges blake
Sir qd þis Somnor heile & wele a take
85
Welkom qd he & euery good felawe
Weder rides þou vnder þis grene wod schawe
Saide þis ȝoman wilt þou fer to daie
Þe Somnor him ansewerd & seide naye
Here fast by qd he is myn entent
90
To riden for to reisene vp a rent
It longeþ to my lordes dewte
Ert þou þan a baillif ȝe qd he
He dorst nouȝt fo verre felþe & schame
Sei þat he was a somnor for þe name
95
De par dieux quod þis ȝoman dere broþer
Þou ert a bailif . & .I. am a noþer
.I. vnknowen as in þis contre
Of þin acqueyntance .I. wil praie þe
And eke of breþerhede if þat þou liste
100
.I. haue golde & siluer in my chiste
If þat ȝe happed to com in to owre schire
It schal be þine riht as þou wilt desire
Gremercie qd þis Somnor be my feiþe
Euer iche in oþers honde her trouþ leyþe
105
For to be swore breþer to þei deye
And wiþ þat worde þei ride forþe þer weie
Þis somnor wiþ þat was as ful of Iangles
As foƚƚ of venym be þis wereangles
And euere enquireinge vpon euery þinge
110
Broþer qd he where is ȝoure dwelynge
Anoþer daie if .I. schal ȝou seche
Þis ȝoman him ansewarde in soft speche
Broþe qd he fer in þe norþe cuntre
Where as .I. hope some time .I. schal þe se
115
Ar we departe .I. schal þe so wel wisse
Þat of myne hous schalt þou neuer mysse
Now broþer qd þis Somenor .I. ȝow preie
Teche me while we riden be þe weie .