The General Prologue
Folio 9v
6 of 21 folios
Ne oyment þat wolde clense & bite
That him myht helpe of his whelkes white
635
Nere of þe knobbes sittinge in his chekes
Wele loued he garlike onyons & ȝite lekes
And for to drinke stronge wyne rede as blode
Than wolde he speke & crie as he ware wode
And whan þat he wele drongen had þe wyne
Þan wold he speke no worde bot latyne
A fewe terems had he two or thre
640
That he had lerned owte of sum decre
No wonder is he herd it al þe daie
And eke ȝe knowen it wele howe þat a Iaie
Kan clepe watt as wele as kan þe pope
Bot who so couþe in oþer þinge him grope
645
Þan had he spent al his philosophie
Ay Questio quid Iuris wold he crie
He was a gentil harlot & a kynde
A better felawe scholde men nouht finde
He wolde suffer for a whart of wyne
650
A good felaw to haue his concubyne
A twelmonþe & excuse him att fulle
Ful piuely eke a finche couþe he pulle
And . if he fonde owhere a goode felawe
He wolde techen him to haue none awe
655
In suche cas of þe Archedekenes Curse
Bot if mannes soule were in his purse
For in his purse he scholde punyschede be
The purse es þe Archedekenes heƚƚ seide he
Bot wele .I. wote he lyede riht in dede
660
Of curssinge owht yche gilty man him drede
For curs wil sle riht as a soyleynge sauyþe
And also war him of a siginficauit
In dawngere had he att his owen gise
The ȝonge girles of þe Diocise
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And knewe her consel & what was al here rede
A garland had he sett vpon his hede
As grete as it were for an Ale stake
A bokelere had he made him of a kake
¶ Wiþe him þere rode a gentil pardonere
670
Of Rouncyual his frende & his comper
Þat streyhte was cōme fro þe courte of Rome
Ful loude he songe come hider loue to me .