The Man of Law's Tale
Folio 77v
24 of 27 folios
If þat þe childes moder weer ouht sche
That is wif & piuely he siht
And sped him fro þe table þat he myht
¶ Par faye þouht he þe fantome is in myn hede
940
.I. hauht demen of skilful Iuggement
Þat in þe salt se my wif is dede
And afterward he maade his Argument
What wote .I. if þat crist hir haþ hider sent
Mi wyf be see as wele as he hire sent
945
To my contre from þens þat sche was went
¶ And after none home wiþ þe Senatour
Goþe Alla for to seen þis wonder chaunce
This Senator doþ alla a grete honoure
And hastely sent after Custance
950
Trusteþ wele hire liste nouht to daunce
Whan þat sche wiste where for was þat sonde
Vnneþe vp vpon hire feete sche myht stonde
¶ Whan Alla sauhe his wif faire he hire grete
And wepped þat it was reuþe for to see
955
For att þe first loke he on hire sette
He knewe wele verraile þat it was sche
And for sorwe as dombe stant as a tre
So was hir hert schette in hir distresse
When sche remembred his vnkindenesse
960
¶ Twys sche swownede in his owen siht
He wepe & him excuseþ pitusly
God qd he & his halowes briht
So wisly of my soule as haue mercy
That of ȝoure harme as gelteles am .I.
965
As is Moris my soū so like ȝowre face
Elles þe fende me feche out of þis place
¶ Longe was þe sobynge & þe bitter peine
Or þat hir woful hertes myht cesse
Grete was was þe pite for to here hem pleine
970
Thoruhe whiche pleintes gan her woo encres
I. pray ȝow al my labor to relese
.I. maie nouht tel hir woo vn to tomorwe
.I. am so wery to speke of hir sorwe
¶ Bot fynally whan þat þe soþe is wist
975
That Alla gilteles was of hir woo
.I. trowe . an .C. times bene þei kist
And suche a blisse is þere be tuex hem two