The Friar's Tale
Folio 104v
5 of 9 folios
Nai certainly qd he þare haue we none
Bot whan vs likeþe we can tak vs one
Or elles make ȝou seme we bene schape
Somtim aman or lyke an hape
165
Or lyke an angel can .I. ride or goo
It is no wonder þinge þouhe it be soo
A lousy Iogelour can disceyue þe
And perde ȝit can .I. mor craft þan he
Whi quod þis Somnor Ride ȝe þan or gone
170
In Sondre schappe & nouht alweie one
For we qd he wil vs suche forme make
As most able is oure preis to take
What makeþ ȝowe to haue al þis laboure
Ful mony acause leue ser Somnor
175
Seid þis fende bot al þinge haþe time
Þe daie is schort & it is passed pime
And ȝit ne wann .I. no þinge in þis daie
.I. wil entend to wynynge if .I. maie
And nouht entende oure wittes to declare
180
For broþer myne þi witte is al to bare
To vnder stonde þouhe .I. tolde hem þe
Bot for þou axest whi labour we
For sum time we bne goddes instrumentz
And mennes to done his cōmandementz
185
Whan þat him vpon his creatures
In diuerse attes & indiuers figures
Wiþ outen him we haue no myht certaine
If þat him lust stande þer aȝeine
And sum tym att our preie haue we leue
190
Onely þe body & nouht þe soule greue
Wittenes on Iob whom þat we deden woo
And sum tyme haue we myht of boþe tuo
This is to seine of soule & body eke
And som time we bnen suffered for to done seke
195
Vpon a man & do his soule vnrest
Nouht his \body/ & al is for þe best
Whan he wiþ stondeþ oure temptacione
It is a cause of saluacione
Al be it þat it was nouȝt owre entent
200
He scholde be saue bot þat we wold him hent
And some tim be we seruant vn to aman
As þe Erchebysschope seiþe Dunstan