¶ The prologue of the Nonnes preestes tale . [on leaf 182]
Hoo quod the knyght / good sire namoore this
That ye han seyd / is right ynough ywis
And muchel moore / for litel heuynesse
Is right ynough / to muche folk I gesse
Line 3960
I seye for me / it is a greet disese
Where as men han been / in greet welthe and ese
To heeren / of hire sodeyn fal allas
And the contrarie / is ioye and greet solas
Line 3964
As whan a man / hath ben in poure estaat
And clymbeth vp / and wexeth fortunat
And there abideth / in prosperitee
Swich thyng is gladsom / as it thynketh me
Line 3968
And of swich thyng. were goodly for to telle
Ye quod oure hoost by seint Poules belle
ye seye right sooth this Monk / he clappeth lowde
He spak. how ffortune / couered with a clowde
Line 3972
¶ I noot neuere what/ and also of a Tragedie [folio 182b]
Right now ye herde / and pardee no remedie
It is / for to biwaille / ne compleyne
That þat is doon / and als it is a peyne
Line 3976
As ye han seyd / to heere of heuynesse
¶ Sire monk. namoore of this / so god yow blesse
Youre tale / anoyeth all this compaignye
Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye
Line 3980
ffor ther-Inne is ther/ no desport ne game
¶ Wherfore sire Monk daun Piers by youre name
I pray yow hertely / telle vs somwhat elles
ffor sikerly nere clynkyng of youre belles
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