The Friar's Prologue
Folio 102r
1 of 2 folios
Þat sche so faire was & so ȝonge þer to
1225
For ioy he hent hir in his armes tuo
His hert baþed in a baþþe of blisse
A .M. time a rewe he gan hir kisse
And sche obeide him in euery þinge
Þ myht done him plesans or likeinge
1230
And þus þei leued vn to her lyues hende
In parfite Ioye and ihū criste vs sende
Hosbonde meke ȝonge & fresshe y bedde
And grace to ouer lede hame þat we wedde
And eke .I. praie to ihū schort her lyues
1235
Þat wil nouht be gouernd be hir wyues
And olde & Angrye nigard in dispence
God send hem sone averrei Pestelence
Explicit fabƚa Matrone vxis de Bathon ë.
This worþi lymitor þis noble frere
He maad alweie lowreynge chere
Vpon þe Sompnor bot for honeste
No veleyns worde as ȝite spake he
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Bot att þe last he saide vnto þe wife
Dame good god ȝyue ȝowe riht good life
Ȝe haue touchede here as mot .I. þe
In scole matier gret difficulte
Ȝe haue seide muchel þinge riht wele .I. seie
10
Bot dame here as we riden be þe weie
Vs nedeþ nouht to speken bot of game
And lete Auitorites in goddes name
To percheinge & to schole eke of clergie
Bot if it like vnto þis compaignie
15
.I. wil ȝowe of a Somnor tel a game
Parde .I. maie wele knowe be þi name
Þat of no somnor mai no good be seide
.I. praie þat none of ȝowe be yuel apaide
A Somnor is a romer vp & doune
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Wiþ amendement of fornicacioune
And is .I. bette att euery tounes ende
Owre þan spake a sir ȝe scholde be hende
And curteis as man of ȝoure astate
In compaignie we wil no debate
25
Telleþ ȝoure tale & lateþ þe somenor be
Naie qd Somnor late him seito me
What so him liste whan it comeþ to my lote
Be god .I. schal him qwite euery grote .