The Franklin's Tale
Folio 158r
3 of 11 folios
And whan he knew þat þer was noon obstacle
That voyded were þese rokkes euerich oon
Doun to his maistres feet he fel anoon
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And sayd I wrecched woful aurilius
Thanke ȝou lord and my lady venus
That me han holpe fro my cares colde /
And to þe temple his way forþ he haþ holde
Wher as he knew he schold his lady se
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And whan he saugh his tyme anoon right he
With dredful hert and with ful humble cheere
Salued haþ his owne lady deere
My souerayn lady quod þis woful man
Whom I most drede and loue as I can
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And loþest were of al þis world displese /
Nere it þat I for ȝou haue such desese /
That I most deye her at ȝoure foot anoon
Nought wold I telle how me is wo bygoon
But certes ouþer most I dye or pleyne
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Ȝe sleen me gulteles for verrey peyne
But of my deþ þougħ þat ȝe haue no rouþe
Auyseth ȝow er þat ȝe breke ȝour trouþe
Repenteþ ȝow for þilke god aboue
Ȝe me sleen by cause þat I ȝou loue
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For madame wel ȝe woot what ȝe han higħt
Nat þat I chalenge eny þing of rigħt
Of ȝow my souerayn lady but ȝoure gace
But in a gardyn ȝonde at such a place
Ȝe wot right wel what ȝe byhighte me
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And in myn hond ȝour trouþe plighte ȝe
To loue me best god woot ȝe sayde so
Al be þat I vnworþy am þerto
Ma dame I speke it for thonor of ȝow
More þan to saue mȳ hertes lif right now
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I haue do so as ȝe comaunded me
And if ȝe vouche sauf ȝe may go se
Doþ as ȝou list haue ȝoure byheste in mynde
For quyk or deed right þer ȝe schul me fynde
In ȝow liþ al to do me lyue or deye