The Friar's Tale
Folio 105v
3 of 9 folios
245
As ferforþly as euer were ȝe folde
So muche woo as .I. haue for ȝowe þoled
The deuel haue al boþe hors & carte & haye
Thouht þis Somnor here schal we haue a pleie
And nere þe fende he drouhe as nouhten were
250
An ful piuely rouned in his ere
Herken my broþer herken be þi feiþe
Heres þou nouht howe þe carter seiþe
Hent it a none for hehaþ ȝeuen it þe
Boþe heye & carte & eke his caples þre
255
Nay qd þe deuel god wote neuer a dele
It is nouht his entent trust me wele
Ax him þi self if þou trowest not me
Or elles stinte a while & þou schalt see
260
This Carter þakkes his hors on þe croupe
And þei be gonne to drawe & to stoupe
Heyte nowe qd he þat ihū criste ȝow blisse
And al his hondewerke boþe more & lisse
Þat was my faire lyarde boye
265
And .I. praie god saue þe & seinte loye
Nowe is my carte oute of þe slouhe perde
Lo broþer qd þe fende what tolde .I. þe
He maie ȝe se myne owen dere broþer
Þe carle spak o þinge bot he þouht a noþer
270
Latt vs go forþe abouten owre viage .
Here wynne .I. no þinge vpon cariage
Whan þei com somwhat oute of þe toune
This Somnor to his broþer gan roune
Broþer qd he here wonneþ an olde rebek
275
Þat ahadde almoste as leue to lese her neke
As for to ȝeue a peny of hire goode
.I. wil haue tuelue pens þouhe þat sche be wode
Or .I. wil somone hire to oure Office
And ȝit god woote of hir know .I. no vice
280
Bot for þou canst nouht as in þis countre
Wynne þi coste take here ensample of me
This Somnor clepeþ att þe wydoues gate
Come owte he seide þou olde veritate
.I. troue þou hast sum frere or preste wiþ þe
285
Who clepeþ seide þis wif benedicite
God saue ȝowe sire what is ȝoure swete wil
.I. haue qd he a somons of þe here a bil