Introduction to the Man of Law's Tale
Folio 65v
2 of 3 folios
Whan sche haþe lostit in hire wantounes
Lat vs nouȝt moulen þus in ydelnes
Sir Man \come/ of qd he so haue ȝe blisse
Tel vs a tale nowe as forward is
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Ȝe be sub mitted þorwhe ȝoure fre assent
To stonden in þis caas att my Iuggement
Acquiteþe now ȝowe of ȝoure be heste
Than haue ȝe done ȝoure deuer att leste
Ost qd he de perdeux iche assent
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To breke forwarde is nouht myne entent
Be heste is dette & .I. wil holden faine
Al my byheste .I. can no better seine
For suche lawe as aman ȝeueþ anoþer whihte
He scholde him selfe vsen it be riht
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Thus wil oure text bot Naþeles certeine
.I. can riht nowe no trusti tale seine
Þat chaucer þouhe he can bot lewdly
On metres & in rymeinge craftely
Haþe saide hem in suche ynglysshe as he can
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Of Olde time as knoweþ mony a man
And if he haue nouht seide hem leue broþer
In o boke he haþe seide in a noþer
For he haþ tolde of louers vp & doune
Moo þan Ouide Maade Mencion
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In his Episteles þat been ful olde
What schold .I. tellen hem sen þei bn tolde
In ȝouþe he maade of Ceys and Alcione
And siþen haþe he spoken of euerichone
Thes noble wifes & þes louers eke
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Who so þat wil his large velome seke
Cleped þe seintes legent of Cupide
Ther maie he see þe large woundes wide
Of lucres & of Babilan Thisbe
The swerde of dido for þe fals ene
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The tree of phillis for hir demefon
The pleinte of Dianyre ād of Ermyon
Of Adriane & of ysiphilee
The barayn ysel stondeynge in þe see
The dreynt leandre for his erro
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The teres of Eleyne & eke þe wo
Of brixseide & of þe ladomya
The cruelte of quene Medea