The Monk's Tale
Folio 209r
4 of 20 folios
¶ He slouhe & raft þe skynne fro þe lyon
He of Centaurus leide þe bost a doune
He arpies slowhe þe cruel birdes feƚƚ
He golden apelles raft þe dragoūe
He drouhe oute Serberous þe hounde of heƚƚ
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¶ He slowhe þe cruel tyrant vnserus
And maade his hors to frete him flesche & bone
He slouhe þe verrey serpent venemous
Of Achilles tuo hornes brak he one
And he slowhe Cacus in a kaue of stone
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He slowhe þe Gyant Anteus þe stronge
He slowhe þe Grisely bore & þat a none
And bare þe hede vpon his neke longe
¶ Was neuere whihite sen þe werlde be gan
That slouhe so mony monstres as did he
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Þoruhe oute þis wide werlde his name ranne
What for his streynkeþ & his bounte
And euerye Realme went he for to see
He was so stronge þat noman miht him lette
A boue þe werldes ende seiþe trophe
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In stede of bondes he a piler sette
¶ A leman hadd þis noble champion
Þat hiht Dianier frische as maie
And as þe clerkes maade mencione
Sche haþ him sent a schert frische & gaie
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Alas þis scherte & walawaie
envenymed was subtily wiþ aƚƚ
Or þat he had werde it hafe a daie
It maad his flesche froþe bone fast
¶ Bo naþelesse sōm clerkes hir excusen
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Be one þat hiht nescius þat it maked
Be as be maye he .I. wil hir nouht accusen
Bon on his bake þis schert he weres al naked
Til þat his flesche was for þe venym blakede
And whan he sauhe none oþer remedye
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In hote coles he haþ him self rakede
For wiþ no venym deynede he to deye