¶ The prologe of the freres tale . [folio 80b]
THis worthy lymytour / this noble frere
He made alwey / a maner louryng chiere
Vpon the Somonour / but for honestee
No vileyns word / as yet to hym spak he
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But atte laste / he seyde vn-to the wyf
Dame quod he / god yeue yow right good lyf
Ye han heer touched / al so moot I thee
In scole matere / greet difficultee
Line 1272
Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel I seye
But dame / heere as we ryde by the weye
Vs nedeth nat. to speken but of game
And lete / auctoritees / on goddes name
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To prechyng and to scole of clergye
And if it lyke / to this compaignye
I wol yow / of a somonour telle a game
Pardee / ye may wel knowe by the name
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That of a Somonour / may no good be sayd
I praye / þat noon of you / be yuele apayd
A Somonour / is a rennere vp and doun
With mandementz / for fornicacioun
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And is y-bet at euery townes ende
¶ Oure hoost tho spak / a sire ye sholde be hende
And curteys / as a man of youre estaat
In compaignye / we wol haue no debaat
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Telleth youre tale / and lat the Somonour be
¶ Nay quod the Somonour / lat hym seye to me
What so hym list whan it comth to my lot
By god / I shal hym quiten euery grot
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I shal hym tellen / which a greet honour
It is / to be a flaterynge lymytour
And of many another manere cryme
Which nedeth nat rehercen for this tyme
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And his office / I shal hym telle ywis
¶ Oure hoost answerde / pees namoore of this
And after this / he seyde vn-to the frere
Tel forth youre tale / leeue maister deere
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