The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 68v
6 of 27 folios
185
Bot crist þat starf for oure redempcione
So ȝeue me grace his hestes to fulfiƚƚ
.I. wriched wōman no force þou .I. spiƚƚ
Wemmen arne born to þraldom & penance
And to bue vnder mannes gouernance
190
¶ .I. trowe att troie whan purrus brake þe wal
Or . ylion þat brende Thebes þat Citee
Noute Rome for þe harme þorwhe Hanybal
That Romaynes haþ venquissed times þre .
Nas herde swiche tender wepeinge for pite
195
As in þe chambre for hire departeinge
Bot forþe sche mote where so sche wepe or singe
¶ O ferst moueynge cruel firmament
Wiþ þi diurnale sweigh þat croudest aie
And hurlist al fro est to Occident
200
Þat naturelly wold hold a noþer waye
Thi croudeinge sett þe heuen in suche arraie
Att þe be ginnynge of þis fers viage
That cruel Mars haþe slaxyne þis maxriage
¶ Infortunate ascendent tortuous
205
Of whiche þe lorde is faƚƚ alas
Out of his angle in to þe derkest house
O mars o. ataȝir as in þis caas
O feble mone vn happy bene þi pas
Thou knettest þe þar þou ert nouht receyuede
210
The þou weere wele fro þens nowe ert þou weyued
¶ Imprudent emperor of Rome allas
Was þere no philosopher in al þi toune
Is no time bet þan oþer in suche cas
Of viage is þer none eleccōn
215
Namely to folke of hihe condicōn
Nat whan arote is of a burþe y knowe
Alas ȝe bene to lewed or to slowe
¶ The schippe is brouht þis woful faire maide
Solempnely wiþe euery circumstance .