The Manciple's Tale
Folio 228v
5 of 7 folios
This es þeeffecte þere is nomore to seine
For sorwe of whiche he brak his mynstralcy
Bothe harpe & Lute getern & sautrie
165
And eke he brak his arwes & his bowe
And after þat þus spake he to þe crowe
Traytor qd he wiþ tonge of scorpione
Þou hast me brouht to my confusione
Alas þat .I. was wrouht whi nere .I. dede
170
O dere wif o Iemme of lustihede
That were to me so sadde & eke so trewe
Nowe liest þou dede wiþ face pale of hewe
Ful giltles þat dorst swere .I. wys
O rachel hounde to done so foule amys
175
O trouble witte o yre recheles
Þat vnavised smytest giltles
O wanne trust ful of fals suspeccioū
Where was þi witte & þi discrecione
Of euery man be war of rechelnesse
180
Ne trowe no þinge wiþ outen stronge wittenesse
Smyte nouhte to sone ar þat þou wyt why
Ande be auisede wele & soburlye
Vpon ȝoure ire for suspeccioū
185
Alas a þousand folke haue Rachel ire
Fully fordone or brouht hem in þe myre
Alas for sorwe .I. wil my self sle
And to þe crowe o fals þef seide he
.I. wil þe qwite anone þi fals tale
190
Þow songe whilom like a nyht gale
Nowe schalt þou fals þef þi songe for gone
Eke þine white feþers euerychon
Ne neuer in al þi lif schal þu speke
Þus schal men on a traitur buen ywreke
195
Þou & þin hospernge euere schal be blake
Ne neuere swete noise schal ȝe maake
Bot euere Crie aȝeine tempest & reyne
In tokeneynge þat þoruhe þe my wif is sleyne
And to þe crowe he sterte & þat anone
200
And pullede his white feþers euerychone
And maad him blake & raft him al his songe
And eke his speche & oute at þe dore him slonge
Vnto þe deuel whiche .I. him be take