The Tale of Gamelyn
Folio 54v
1 of 21 folios
Fye þer one it is so foule .I. wil nowe tell no forþere
For schame of þe harlotrie þat seweþ after
A velany it were þare of more to speƚƚ
Bot of a knyhte & his sonnes my tale .I. wil forþe teƚƚ
And þere fore listeneþ . & herkeneþ þis tale ariht .
And ȝe schullen here of a douhte knyht
Sir Iohñ of Boundys was his name
He couþe of nortur & muchel of game
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Þre sonnes þe knyht had & wiþ his body he hē wāne
The eldest was a muche schrewe & sone he begāne
His breþerne loued wele here fader & of him were agast
The eldest deserued his fader curs & had it att þe last
The good knyht his fadere leuede so ȝore
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That deþe was cōmen him to & handeled him sore
The goode knyht cared sore seke þer he leye
How his children schold leuen after his deye
He had bue wide where bot no husbonde he was
Aƚƚ þe londe þat \he/ had was verrey purchas
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Fayne he wolde it were y dressed amonge hem al
That iche of hem miht haue his parte as it wald fal
Tho sente he in to Contre after wise knyhtes
To helpen delen his londes & drisse hem to rihtes
He sent hem worde by ƚres þei scholden hihe belyue
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If þei wolde speke wiþ him if þe were on lyue
Tho þe knyhtes herden seek þat he laye
Had þei no reste neyþer nyht nor daye
Til þei cam to hime þere he lay stiƚƚe
On his deþ bede to abide goddes wiƚƚe
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Than seide þe good knyhte seke þere he lay
Lordes .I. ȝowe warne soþe wiþ owten nay
.I. may no longer lene here on þis stonde
For þorwhe goddes wiƚƚ deþ draueþ me to grounde .
Ther nas none of hem aƚƚ þat herde him a riht
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That þei hadden rewþe of þat ilke knyht
And seid sir for goddes loue ne dismay ȝowe nouht
God maye done bote of bale þat is nowe ywrouht
Than spake þe good knyht seeke þere he laie
Bote of bale god may sende .I. wote it is no naye
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Bot .I. be seke ȝow knyhtes for þe loue of me
Goþ & dresseþ my londes amonge myne sonnes þre
And for þe loue of god deleþ hem nouht a mys
And for ȝete nouht Gamelyn my ȝonge soū þat is