The Second Nun's Tale
Folio 152r
1 of 13 folios
Incipit prologus .2õ. Monyalys
The Ministre of þe Norice vnto vices
Whiche þat men clepen in englisshe ydelnesse
The porter of þe gate is of delices
To eschiewe . And bu hir . contrarie hire oppresse
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That is to seine be leful besinesse
Wele ouhte we to done oure entent
Lest þat þe fende þoruhe . Idelnesse vs schent
¶ For he þat wiþ his þousand cordes slyȝe
Contenuely vs wayteþ to be clappe
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Whan he maie man in Idelnesse aspize
He can so lihtly cache him in his trappe
Til þat a man be hente riht be þe lappe
He is not waree þe fende haþe him in honde
Wele ouhte vs werche & ydelnesse wiþ stonde
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¶ And þouhe men dradden neuer for to deye
Ȝit seen men wele be reson douteles
Þat ydelnesse is rotin slogardye
Of þere comeþ neuere none encrese
And seþens þat slouþe hir haldeþ in a lese
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Onely to slepe & for to ete & drinke
And to deuowren al þat oþer swynke
¶ And for to putt vs fro suche Idelnesse
Þat cause is of þe grete confusione
.I. haue here done my feiþeful besinesse
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After þe legent in translacione
Riht of þe glorious lif & passione
Þou wt þi garlonde wrouht wiþ rosus & lylie
The mene .I. amaide & martire seint Cecile
¶ And þou þat floure of virgines art al
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Of whome þat Bernarde lust so wele to write
To þe att my begynynge first .I. caƚƚ
Þou comfort of vs wreches do me endite
Þi maydens deþ þat was poruhe hir merite
Þe eternale lif & of þe fende victorie
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As men maie after reden in hir storie
¶ Thou maiden & moder douhte of þi sōne
Thou weƚƚ of mercy sinful soules cure
In whome þat god for bounte chees to wonne
Þou hūble & hihe ouer euery creature
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Þou noblest so fer oure nature
Þat no desdeyne þe Maker had of kinde