The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 283]

& begynneth þe tale

[Sloane MS 1685 folio 214b]

Apore wydowe some dele stope in age Was whilom dwellynge in a narow cotage Line 4012 Be-sydes a grove stondynge in a dale Thys wydow of whiche I telle you my tale Syþens þilke day þat she was laste a wyfe In pacience ladde a fulle symple lyf Line 4016 ffor lytelle was hir/ catelle & hir rent By husbondry of suche þat god hir/ sent Sche fonde hir/ self / & eke hir douȝtren two· Thre large sowes hade she & no moo Line 4020 Thre kyne & eke a shepe þat hiȝt/ mal fful soty was hir/ boure and eke hir / hall In whiche she ete many a sclender mele Of/ poynaunte sawce hir nedeth nevere a dele Line 4024 No deynte Morsell passed hir/ throote hir diete was accordaunt to hir coote Replecion ne made her neuere seke A-tempre dyete was alle hir/ physike Line 4028 And excercise & hert sufficiaunce. þe gowte let hir/ no thynge to daunce Ne poplexie ne shente nouȝt hir/ heede Ne wyne dronke she neiþer whyte nor reede Line 4032 Her bord was served moste with white & blake [Sloane MS 1685 folio 215a] Mylke and browne brede in whiche she fonde no lake Seynde bakon and some tyme an eye or tweie ffor she was as hit were a manere of a deie Line 4036 A gardeyne she hade enclosed alle aboute With stykes and a drye dyche with-oute In whiche she hade a Cok/ þat hyȝt Chauntelere In alle þe londe of Crawynge was hys peere Line 4040

[6-text p 284] Line 4040 hys voice was muryer þan þe murye orgon [[Sloane MS 1685]] On masse dayes þat in þe Chirche goon Wele sykerere was þe crowynge in hys loggo Then ys a Clok /. or an Abbey orlogge Line 4044 Be nature he knewe eche ascencioun Of equynoxiol of þilke toune ffor when degrees xv were discended þan knewe he þat it myȝt not be amendid] [[Sloane extract ends]] His colour was reddere than the fyne coral [Camb. Univ. MS Gg. 4. 27] [folio 365a] And batayled as it were a castel wal His byl was blak / and as the Ieet it schoon Like asure weere hise leggis & hise toon Line 4052 Hise naylis whittere / than the lylye flour And lik the burnede gold was his colour This gentil kok hadde in his gouernaunce Seuene hennys for to doon al his plesaunce Line 4056 Whiche weere hise susterys & hise paramouris And wondyr lyk to hym of colourys Of whiche the fayreste hewyd on hire throte Was clepid fayre dameselle Pertelote Line 4060 Curteys sche was / discreet & debonayre And compaynable & bar hire self so fayre Syn thilke day that sche was seue ȝeer old That trewely sche hath the herte in hold Line 4064 Of Chauntecleer lokyn in euery lith He louede hym so that weel was hym therwith But swich a Ioye it was to heere hem synge Whan that the bryghte sune be-gan to sprynge Line 4068 With sweete a-cord myn lef is faryn on londe ffor thilke tyme as I haue vndyrstonde Bestis & bryddis coude speke & synge And so be-fel that in a dawenynge Line 4072 As Chauntecleer a-mong hise wyuys alle Sat on his perche that was in an halle And next hym sat Dame Pertelote This Chauntecleer gan gronyn in his throte Line 4076

[6-text p 285] Line 4076 As man that in his dreem is drechid sore And whan that pertelote thus herde hym roore Sche was a-gast & seyde herte deere What eylyth ȝow to groone in this maneere Line 4080 ȝe been a verray slepere fy for schame· And he answerde thus / & seide Madame I preye ȝow that ȝe take it nat at gref By god me mette I was in swich myschef Line 4084 Rygh now that ȝit myn herte is soore afrit Now god quod he myn sweuene reche a-rygh[t] And kepe myn body out of foul prysoun [folio 365b] Me mette how that I romede vp & doun Line 4088 With-inne oure ȝerd where that I saw a beste Was lik an hound & wolde han mad a-reste Vp-on myn body & anhad me deed His colour was be-twixe ȝelw & reed Line 4092 And typpid was his tayl & bothe hise eris With blak onlyk the remenaunt of hise heris His snoute smal with glowynge eyen tweye Ȝit for his lok for fer almost I deye Line 4096 This causede me myn gronyng douteles Avoy quod sche fy on ȝow herteles Allas quod sche for by that god a-boue Now han ȝe lost myn herte & al myn loue Line 4100 I can nat loue a coward by myn feyth ffor certys what so any woman seyth We alle desyryn ȝif it myghte be To han husbondis hardy wyse & fre Line 4104 And secre / & no nygard ne no fool Ne hym that is agast of euery tool Ne noon auauntour by that god a-boue How durste ȝe seyn for schame on to ȝoure loue Line 4108 That any thyng myghte make ȝow a-feryd Han ȝe no manys herte & han a berd Allas & cunne ȝe been agast of sweuenys No thyng god wot but vanite in sweuen is Line 4112

[6-text p 286] Line 4112 Sweuenys engenderyn / of repleciounnys And ofte of fume & of complexiounys Whanne humouris been to haboundaunt in a wight Sertis this drem whiche ȝe han met to nyght Line 4116 Comyth of the greete superfluite Of ȝoure reede colera parde Whiche causyn folk to dredyn in here dremys Of arwis & of fyr with rede lemys Line 4120 Of rede bestis that they wele hym byte Of contek & of whelpis greete & lite Righ as the humour of malencolye Causith ful manye a man in slep to crye Line 4124 ffor feer of blake beris / or of bolys blake [folio 366a] Or ellis blake deuyllis wole hem take Of othere humouris coude I telle also That werkyn manye a man in sleep ful wo Line 4128 But I wele passe as lyghtely as I can To Catoun which that was so wis a man Seyde he nat thus ne do no fors of dremys [Sompnia ne cures] Now sire quod sche whan we flye from the bemys Line 4132 ffor godis loue tak sum laxatyf Vp peril of myn soule & of myn lyf I conseyle ȝow the beste I wele nat lye That bothe of colere & of malencolye Line 4136 ȝe porge ȝow & for ȝe schal nat tarye Thow in this toun is non apotecarye I schal myn self to erbis techyn ȝow That schul been for ȝoure hele & for ȝoure prow Line 4140 And in oure ȝerd two erbis schal I fynde The whiche han of here propirte by kynde To porge ȝow be-nethe & ek a-bove ffor-ȝet nat this for godis owene lowe Line 4144 ȝe been ful colerik of complexioun Ware the sunne in his ascencioun Ne fynde ȝow nat replet / of humouris hoote ffor yef he do / I dar leye a grote Line 4148

[6-text p 287] Line 4148 That ȝe schul han a feuere terciane Or an agu that may been ȝoure bane A day or two ȝe schul haue digestivis Of wermys er ȝe take ȝoure laxatyues Line 4152 Of lauriole sentaurye / & fumeteere Or ellis of Elebre that growith theere Of Catapuce / or of Gattris beryis Or Erbe Iue that growith in oure ȝerd theere merye is Pikke hem vp righ as they growe & ete hem in Line 4157 Be merye husbonde for ȝoure fadyr kyn Dredyth no dreem I can seye ȝow no moore Madame quod he graunnt mercy of ȝoure lore Line 4160 But natheles as touchith Daun Catoun That hath of wisdam swich a greet renoun Thow that he bad no dremys for to dreede [folio 366b] By god men may in olde bokis rede Line 4164 Of manye a man moore of autorite Than euere catoun was so mote I the That al the reuers seyn of his sentence And han weel foundyn by experience Line 4168 That dremys been signyficaciounnys As wel of ioye as of tribulaciounnys That folk enduryn in this lyf present Theere nedyth of this makyn non argument Line 4172 The verray preue schewith it in dede ¶ Some of the gretteste autourys as men reede [Naracio] Seyth thus that to felawys wente On pilgrymage with a ful good ente[nte] Line 4176 And happede so they comyn in a toun Where as theere was swich a congregacioun Of peple & ek so streyt of herbigage That they ne founde as meche as a cotage Line 4180 In whiche they myghe bothe I-loggede be Wherefore they musten of necescite As for that nyght departyn cumpaynye And eche of hem goth to his ostellerye Line 4184

[6-text p 288] Line 4184 And tok his logyng as it wolde falle That on of hem was logit in a stalle ffer in a ȝerd with oxin of the plough That othir man was logid weel I-nough Line 4188 As was his auenture / or his fortune That vs gouernyth alle as in comune And so be-fel that longe er it was day This man mette in his bed there as he lay Line 4192 How that his felawe gan vp-on hym calle And seyde allas for in an oxis stalle This nyght I schal been morderid there I lye Now help me deere brotyr er I deye Line 4196 In alle haste come to me he seyde This man out of his slep for fer abreyde And whan that he was wakenede of his slep He turnede hym & tok of this no keep Line 4200 Hym thoughte his dreem nas but a vanyte [folio 367a] Thus twyis in his slepynge dremede he And at the thredde tyme / ȝit his felawe Cam as hym thoughte / & seyde I am now slawe Line 4204 Byhold mynne blody woundis deepe & wyde A-ris vp erly in the morwe tyde And at the west gate / of the toun quod he A carteful of donge / there thu schat se Line 4208 In wich myn body is hid ful pryuyly Do thilke carte a-reste boldely Myn gold causede myn mordere certeyn And tolde hym euery poynt how he was slayn Line 4212 With a wol pitous face pale of hewe And truste weel this drem he fond ful trewe ffor on the morwe as sone as it was day To his felawe he tok te nexte way Line 4216 And whan that he cam to his oxis stalle Aftyr his felawe he be-gan to calle ¶ The hosteleer answerede hym a-non And seyde sere ȝoure felawe is a-goon Line 4220

[6-text p 289] Line 4220 As sone as day he wente out of the toun This man gan fallyn in suspecioun Remembrynge hym on the dremys that he mette And forth he goth no lengere wolde he lette Line 4224 Vn-to the Westgate of the toun & fond A dong carte wente as it weere to dunge lond That was a-rayed in that same wyse As ȝe han herd the dede man deuyse Line 4228 And with an hardy herte he gan to crye Vengeaunce & Iustise of this felonye Myn felawe morderede is this same nyght And in this carte heere he lyth gapynge vp-ryght Line 4232 I crye out on the mynystris quod he That schulde kepe & rewele this cete Harrowe allas here lyth myn felawe slayn What schulde I moore vnto this tale sayn Line 4236 The peple out sterte & caste the carte to grounde And in the myddyl of the donge they founde The dede man that morderede was al newe [folio 367b] O blysful god that art so Iuste & trewe Line 4240 Lo how that thow bewreyis mordere alway Mordere wele out that se we day be day Mordere is so wlatsome & abhomynable To god that is so Iust & resonable Line 4244 That he ne wele not suffere that it helid be Thow it abyde a ȝeer or two or thre Mordere wele out this myn conclusioun And ryght a-noon mynyste of that toun Line 4248 Han hent the cartere & so sore hym pynyd And ek the hosteller so soore engyned That they be-knewe here wikkedenesse a-non And weere an hangede by the nekke boon Line 4252 Here may men seen that dremys been to drede ¶ And certis in the same bok I reede Rygh in the nexte chapitere aftyr this I gabbe not so haue I ioye or blys Line 4256

[6-text p 290] Line 4256 Two men that wolde a passed ouyr the see ffor certeyn cause in-to a fer cuntre If that the wynd ne hadde been contrarye That made hem in a cete for to tarye Line 4260 That stod ful merye vp-on an hauene syde But on a day a-geyn the euetyde The wynd gan schaunge & blew rygh as hem leste Iolyf & glad they wente to here reste Line 4264 And castyn hem ful erly for to sayle But herkenyth to that on man fyl a gret meruayle That on of hem in slepynge as he lay Hym mette a wondyr drem a-geyn the day Line 4268 Hym though[t]e a man stod bi his bedys side And hym comaunded that he schulde a-byde And seyde hym thus ȝif thow to morwe wende Thow schat ben dreynk / myn tale is at an ende Line 4272 He wok & tolde / his felawe what he mette And preyede hym his viage for to lette As for that day he preyede hym for to a-bide His felawe that lay bi his bedys syde Line 4276 Gan for to lauhe & skornde hym ful faste [folio 368a] No drem quod he may so myn herte agaste That I wele lette for to do myne thyngis I sette not a straw / by thynne dremyngis Line 4280 ffor dremys been but uanyteis & Iapis Men dreme al day of oulis & of apis And of manye a mase there withal Men dreme of thyng that neuere was ne schal Line 4284 But sithe I se that thow wild here a-byde And thus for slouthen / wilfully thyn tyde God wot it rewith me / & haue good day And thus he tok his leue & wente his way Line 4288 But er that he hadde half his cours I-seyled Not I not why / ne what myschaunce it eyled But casewelly / the schipis boteme it rente And schip & man vndyr the watyr wente Line 4292

[6-text p 291] Line 4292 In sight of othere schepis besyde That with hem seyled at the morwe tyde And therefore fayre pertelote so deere By sweche ensaumplis olde mayst thow leere Line 4296 That no man schulde been so recheles Of dremys for I seye the douteles That manye a drem / ful soore is for to drede Lo in the lyf of seynt kenelm I reede Line 4300 That was kenulphus sone the noble kyng Of Merturyke how kenelm mette a thyng A lite er he was mordered on a day His mordere in his auysioun he say Line 4304 His noryce hym expoungnede euerydel His sweuene / & bad hym / for to keepe hym weel ffrom tresoun but he was but seuene ȝeer old And therfore lytil taale hath he told Line 4308 Of any drem so holy was his herte By god I hadde leuere than myn scherte That ȝe hadde rad his legende as haue I Dame pertelote I seye ȝow trewely Line 4312 Matrobeus that wret thauysioun In Affryk of the worthi Ciprioun Affermyth dremys & seyth that they been [folio 368b] Warnynge of thyngis that men aftyr seen Line 4316 And ferthere more I prey ȝow lokyth weel In the olde testement of danyel ȝif he helde dremys ony vanyte Redyth ek of Iosep & there ȝe schul se Line 4320 Wheere dremys ben sumtyme I seye nat alle Warnynge of thyngis that schul aftyr falle Loke of Egip the kyng daun pharao His bakere & his boteler also Line 4324 Wheere they ne feltyn non effect in dremys Who so wele seke actis of sundery remys May reede of dremys manye a sundery thyng Lo Cresus that was of lide kyng Line 4328

[6-text p 292] Line 4328 Mette he nat how that he sat vp-on a tre Whiche signefyed anhangid schulde bee Lo heere Andromatha ectoris wif That day that Ector schulde lese his lyf Line 4332 Sche dremede on the same nyght by-foren How that the lyf of Ector schulde been loryn ȝif thilke day he wente in-to batayle Sche warnede hym but it myghte nat auayle Line 4336 He wente for to fyghte netheles But he was slayn a-noon of Achilles But tylke tale is al to long to telle And ek it is nygh day I may nat dwelle Line 4340 Certeynly I seye as for conclusioun That I schal han of this auysioun Aduersite / & I seye ferthere-moore That I ne telle of laxatyuys no store Line 4344 ffor they been venimes I wot it weel I hem defye I loue hem neuere a deel Now lat vs speke of myrthe & stynte al this Madame pertelote so haue I blys Line 4348 Of on thyng god hath sent me large grace ffor whanne I se the beute in ȝoure face ȝe been so skarlet red aboute ȝoure eyen It makyth al myn dred / for to deyen Line 4352 ffor al so sekyr as In principio [folio 369a] Mulier est homin[i]s confusio Madame the sentence of this latyn is Woman is manys Ioye & al his blys Line 4356 ffor whan I fele a nyght ȝoure softe syde Al be it that I may nat on ȝow ryde ffor that oure perche is mad so narw allas I am so ful of Ioye & of solas Line 4360 That I defye bothe sweuene & drem And with th[a]t word he fley doun from the beem ffor it was day & ek hise hennys alle And with a chuk he gan hem for to calle Line 4364

[6-text p 293] Line 4364 ffor he hadde foundyn a corn lay in the ȝerd Royal he was he nas no moore aferyd He feterede Pertelote twenty tyme And trad as ofte er it was pryme Line 4368 He lokyth as it weere a grym lyoun And on hise tois he romyth vp & doun Hym deynyth nat to sette hise feet to grounde He chukkith whan he hath a corn I-founde Line 4372 And to hym rennyn thanne hise wyuys alle Thus royal as a prynce is in an halle Leue I this chauntecleer in his pasture And aftyr wele I telle his auenture Line 4376 ¶ Whan that the monythe / in which that the world be-gan That high[t]e March / whan god ferst makede man Was compleet & passede weere also Syn March bygan .30. dayis & two Line 4380 By-fel that chauntecleer in al his pryde His seuene wyuys walkynge hym by-syde Caste vp hire eyen to the bryghte sunne That in the signe of taurus hadde I-rounne Line 4384 Twenty degreis & on & sumwhat moore And knew by kynde & by noon othir lore That It was pryme & krew with b[l]ysful steuene The sunne on heye is clombyn vp on heuene Line 4388 .90. degreis & on & moore I-wis Madame pertelote myn wordelis blys Herkenyth these blysful brydis how they synge [folio 369b] And se the frosche flouris how they sprynge Line 4392 fful is myn herte of reuel & solas But sodeynly hym fel a sorweful cas ffor euere the lattere ende of Ioye is wo God wot that wordely ioye / is soone ago Line 4396 And ȝif a retor coude fayre endyte He in a cronicle sauely myghte it wryte As for a souereyn notabilyte Now euery wise man now herkene me Line 4400

[6-text p 294] Line 4400 This storye is also trewe I vndyrtake As Is the bok of launcelot de lake That women heelde in ful greet reuerence Now wele I turne a-geyn to myn sentence Line 4404 A col fox ful of sly Iniquite That in the groue hadde dwelled ȝeris thre By hygh Imaginacioun for-cast The same nyght thour-out the hegis brast Line 4408 In-to the ȝerd there chauntecleer the fayre Was wont & ek hise wyuys to repayre And In a bed of wortis stylle he lay Til it was passed onderen of the day Line 4412 Waytynge his tyme on Chauntecleer to falle As gladly doon these homycidis alle That in a-wayt liggyn to morderen men O false morderour lurkynge in thyn den Line 4416 O newe Scariot / newe Genysoun ffalse dissimylour / O Grek Synoun That broughtist Troye al vttyrly to sorwe O Chauntecheer a-cursede be that morwe Line 4420 That thow in-to that ȝerd / flaw from the bemys Thow weere ful weel I-warnede be thynne dremys That thilke day was perlyous to the But what that god forwot mot nedis be Line 4424 Aftyr the opynioun of certeyn clerkis Witnesse on hym that ony perfyt clerk is That in scole is greet altercacioun In this matiere & greet disputacioun Line 4428 And han been of an hunderede thousent men [folio 370a] But I can not butte it to the breen As can the holy doctour Augustyn Or Boece or the bisshop Bradwardyn Line 4432 Whethir that goddys worthi forwetyng Streynyth me nedely for to do that thyng Needely clepe I symple necescite Or ellis fre choys be grauntede me Line 4436

[6-text p 295] Line 4436 To do that same thyng or do it not Thow god fore-wot it er that I was wrought Or ȝif his wetynge streynyth neuere a deel But by necescite condiciounnel Line 4440 I wele not han to done of swich mateere Myn tale is of a cok as ȝe may here That tok his conseyl of his wif with sorwe To walkyn in the ȝerd vp-on that morwe Line 4444 That he hadde met the drem that I ȝow tolde Womenys conseylis been ful oftyn colde Womenys conseylis broughte vs ferst to woo And made Adam from paradys to go Line 4448 Theere as he was ful merye & weel at ese But for I not to whom I myghte displese ȝif I conseyl of women wolde blame Passe ouyr for I seyde it in myn game Line 4452 Reede autouris wheere they trete of sweche matiere And what they sey / of women / ȝe may here These been the cokkis wordis & nat myne I can noon harm on no woman deuynne Line 4456 ffayre in the sond to bathe hire meryely Lyth Pertelote & alle hire susteryn by A-geyn the sunne & Chauntecleer so free Song meryere than the mermeydyn in the se Line 4460 ffor phisiologus seyth sekyrly How that they syngyn weel & meryely And so be-fel that as he caste his yen A-mong the wortis on a botyrflye Line 4464 He was war of this fox that lay ful lowe No thyng ne lyste hym thanne for to crowe But criede a-noon kok kok & vp he styrte [folio 370b] As man that was afrayed in his herte Line 4468 ffor naturelly / a beste desirith fle ffrom his contrarye / ȝif he myghte it se Thow he neuere erst hadde sey it with his Iye ¶ This chauntecleer whan he gan hym espye Line 4472

[6-text p 296] Line 4472 He wolde a fled but that the fox a-noon Seyde gentyl sire / allas whidyr wole ȝe goon Be ȝe afrayed of me that am ȝoure freend Now certys I were werse than a feend Line 4476 ȝyf I to ȝow harm or velenye I am nat come ȝoure conseyl for tespie But trewely the cause of myn comynge Was only for to herkene how that ȝe synge Line 4480 ffor trewely ȝe han so merie a steuene As ony aungel hath that is in heuene Therewith ȝe han In musik moore felyng Than hadde. boece. or ony that can syng Line 4484 Myn lord ȝoure fadyr god his soule blys And ek ȝoure modyr of hire gentilles Han in myn hous I-been to myn greete ese But certys syre ful fayn wolde I ȝow pleese Line 4488 ¶ But for men speke of syngyng I wil seye So mote I broukyn weel myn eyen tweye Saue ȝow I herde neuere man so synge As dede ȝoure fadyr in the morwenynge Line 4492 Certis it was of herte al that he song And for to make his voys the moore strong He wolde peyne hym that with bothe hise eyen He muste wynke so loude he muste cryen Line 4496 And stondyn on his typton therewithal And streche forth his nekke long & smal And ek he was of swich discrecyoun That there was no man in no regioun Line 4500 That hym in song or wisdam myghte passe I haue weel red in daun burnel the Asse A-mong hise vers how that ther was a kok ffor a prestis sone ȝaf hym a knok Line 4504 Vp-on his leg whil he was ȝond & nyce [folio 371a] He made hym for to lese his benefice But certeyn there ne is no comparisoun By-twixe the wisdom & discrecioun Line 4508

[6-text p 297] Line 4508 Of ȝoure fadyr & of his subtiletee Now syngith sere for seynte charite Lat se cunne ȝe ȝoure fadyr countyrfete This chauntecleer hise wyngis gan to beete Line 4512 As man that coude his tresoun nat aspye So was he rauyschid with his flaterye ¶ Allas ȝe lordis manye a flaterour Is in ȝoure court & manye a losengeour Line 4516 That plesen ȝow weel more be myn fayth Than he that sothfastmesse vn to ȝow sayth Redyth ecclesiaste of flaterye Beth war ȝe lordis of hire trecherye Line 4520 This Chauntecleer stood hye vp-on hise tois Strechynge his neke & held his eyen clos And gan to crowe loude for the nonys And daun Rusell the fox styrte vp at at anys Line 4524 And by the garget hente Chauntecleer And on his bak to the wode hym beer ffor ȝit theere ne was no man that hym sewid O destene that mayst nat been eschewid Line 4528 Allas that Chauntecleer fley from the bemys Allas his wyf ne roughte nat of dremys And on a fryday fil al this myschaunce O venus that art goddesse of plesaunce Line 4532 Syn that thyn seruaunt was this chau[n]tecleer And in thyn seruyse dede al his power Moore for delyt than world to multeplye Why woldist tow suffere hym on thyn day to deye Line 4536 O ganfryd deere maystyr souereyn That whan thyn worthy kyng Richard was slayn With schot compleynedist his deth so soore Whi ne hadde I-nough thyn centence & thyn loore Line 4540 The fryday for to chide as dedyn ȝe ffor on a fryday sothly slayn was he Thanne wolde I schewyn how that I coude pleyne [folio 371b] ffor Chauntecleeres dreede & for his peyne Line 4544

[6-text p 298] Line 4544 ¶ Certis swich cry ne lamentacioun Was neuere of ladijs mad whan ylyoun Was wone & Pirrus with his streyte swerd Whan that he hadde hent kyng priame bi the berd Line 4548 And slayn hym as seyth vs Enidos As madyn alle the hennys in the cloos Whan they hadde of Chauntecler the syght But souereynly dame Pertelote shryght Line 4552 fful loudere than dede Hasdrubalis wyf Whan that hire husbonde hadde y-lost his lyf And that the Romaynys haddyn brent Cartage Sche was so ful of turnement & of rage Line 4556 That wilfully in-to the feer sche sterte And brende hire seluyn with a stedefaste herte O woful hennys ryght so cryedyn ȝe As whan that nero brende the Cete Line 4560 Of Rome cryedyn / Senatouris wyuys ffor that here husbondys lostyn alle here lyuys With-outyn gylt this Nero hath hem slayn Now wole I turne to myn tale agayn Line 4564 ¶ The sely wedewe & ek here doughteryn two Herdyn these hennys crye & makyn wo And out at the dorys stirte they a-non And seyen the fox toward the groue gon Line 4568 And bar vp-on his bak the Cok away And cryedyn out harow & weyleawey .Ha. ha. the fox & aftyr hym they ran And ek with stonys many a-nothir man Line 4572 Ran Colle oure doge & talbot & Garland And Malkyn with a distaf in hire hand Ran cow & Calf & ek the verray hoggis ffor-fered for berkynge of the doggis Line 4576 And schoutyng of the men & women ek They ronne so they thoute here herte brek They ȝelledyn as fendis doon in helle The dokis cryedyn as men wolde hem quelle [folio 372a] [of the Cambr. MS is cut out.]

[6-text p 299] [Out of the hyues/ come the swarme of bees/. [Harl. 1758 folio 199a] The gees/ for feer/ flowyn ouyr/ the trees/. So hidous/ was/ the nois/ a benedicite. Certis/ he Iak/ strawe & his/ meyne. Line 4584 Ne made neuyr/ schoutis/ half so schrille. When that thei wolde anye fflemyng kille. As/ that/ ilke daie was/ made vp-on the ffox. [Harl. 1758 folio 199a] Of/ bras/ thei broght bemes/ & of box. Line 4588 Of horn & boon in whiche thei poupid. And ther with all/ thei schrichid & schoutid. It semyd as/ that/ heuyn schulde falle. Now good men I praie you herkenyth alle. Line 4592 Lo how fortune turneth sodenlye. The hope & eke pride of her/ enuye. This/ Cok/ that laie vp on the ffox bak. In all his/ drede vn-to the ffox spak/. Line 4596 And seide sir/ if/ I were as/ ye. Yet schulde I seie as/ wis/ god helpe me. Turne a-yen ye proude chirles/ alle. A verry pestilence vp-on you falle. Line 4600 Now am I come vn-to this/ Wode side. Maugre your/ heed the Cok schall/ here a-bide. I woll/ hym ete in feyth & that a-non. The ffox answerid in feith it schall be don. Line 4604 And he spak/ that word all/ sodenly. This Cok brak/ fro his/ mouthe delyuerly. And hye vp on a tre he flewe a non. And when the ffox sawe that/ he was/ gon. Line 4608 Alas quod he O chauntecler/ allas/. I haue quod he don to you trespas/. In as/ meche as/ I made you a-ferde. When I you hent & broght out/ of/ the yerde. Line 4612 But sir/ I dide it noght in no wicked entent/. Cometh downe & I schall/ telle you what I ment. I schall/ seie soth so god helpe me so. Naie than quod he I schrewe vs/ bothe two. Line 4616

[6-text p 300] Line 4616 And first/ I schrewe my self bothe blood & bones/. [[Harl. 1758.]] If thou be-gile me ofter/ than ones. Thou schalt/ no more with thi flaterie. Do me syng & wynke with myn ye. Line 4620 ffor he that wynketh when he schulde se. As/ wisly god lete hym neuyr/ the. Naie quod the ffox god yeue hym myschaunce. That is/ so vndiscrete of gouernaunce. Line 4624 That iangleth when he schulde haue pees/. Lo suche is/ for to be recheles/. And necligent/ & trusteth on flaterie. But ye that/ holdyn this/ folie. Line 4628 As/ of a ffox of a Cok/ & of an hen. Taketh the moralite good men. ffor seynt Poule seith all that writen is/. To our/ doctryne it is/ writen y-wis/. Line 4632 Taketh the fruyt & letith the chaf be stille/. Now good god if it be thi wille. [Harl. 1758 folio 200a] As/ seith my lorde so make vs/ alle good men. And bryng vs/ alle to his/ hye blis/ amen. Line 4636

Here endith the/ tale/ of the Nonnes/ Preest/.] [[Harl. 1758 extract ends.]] [[The Manciple's Prologue follows in Harl. 1758, after a space of 28 lines in the middle of page 200.]]