The Squire's Tale
Folio 86r
15 of 17 folios
Al ware it neuer so litel and .I. it wiste
Me þouht .I. felt deþ att myne hert twiste
And schortly so fer forþe þis þinge went
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Þat my wiƚƚ haþ his willes Instrument
This to seine my wiƚƚ obeide his wiƚƚ
In al þinge as fer as reson fiƚƚ
Kepeinge þe boundes of my worschip euere
Ne neuer had .I. þinge so lefe ne leuere
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As him god woote ne neuer schal no mo
This last longer þan a ȝere or two
That .I. supposed of him no þinge bot goode
Bot finaly þus att þe laste it stode
That fortune wolde þat he most twynne
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Owte of þat place whiche þat .I. was inne
Where me was woo it is no questione
.I. kan nouȝt make of hit discripcione
For oþinge dar .I. teƚƚ boldely
.I. knowe what is þe peine of deþe þer by
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Suche harme .I. felte for he ne myht beleue
So on adaye of me he toke is leue
So sorwfully eke þat .I. wende verrayly
That he had feled as muche harme as I
Whan þat .I. herd him speke & sawe his hiewe
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Bot naþeles .I. þouht he was so trewe
And eke þat he repaire scholde agayne
Wiþ inne alite while soþe to seine
And reson wolde eke þat he mot go
For his honor as oft happeþ so
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Þat maade vertue of necessite
And toke it wele seþþe þat it most be
As .I. best myht .I. hidde fro him my sorwe
And toke him by þe honde seint Iohñ to borwe
And seid þus . lo .I. am ȝoures al
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Beþe suche as .I. haue bue to ȝowe & schal
What he answarde it nedeþ nouht reherse
Who can sei bet þan he whou kan do werse
Whan he haþ al wele seide þan haþ he done
Ther for behoueþ him a ful longe spone
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Þat schal eten wiþ a fende þus herd .I. seie
So at þe last he mote forþe his weye
And forþe he flyeþ til he cam where him liste
Whan it com him to purpos for to riste .