GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII.
§ 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE.
HENGWRT MS.
[THE PROEM.]
The Nonne;, [folio 165b] [[head-line]]
(1)
THe Ministre / and the norice vn to vices
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Which that men clepeth in englissh ydelnesse
That porter at the gate is / of delices
To eschuen / and by hir contrarie hire oppresse
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That is to seyn / by leueful bisynesse
Wel oghte we / to doon al oure entente
Lest that the feend / thurgh ydelnesse vs hente
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(2)
¶ ffor he / that with his thousand cordes slye
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Continuelly / vs wayteth to biclappe
Whan he may man / in ydelnesse espye
He kan so lightly / cacche hym in his trappe
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Til that a man / be hent right by the lappe
He nys nat war / the feend hath hym in honde
Wel oghte vs werche / and ydelnesse withstonde
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(3)
¶ And thogh men dradden / neuere for to dye
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Yet seen men wel / by reson doutelees
That ydelnesse / is roten slogardye
Of which ther neuere comth / no good nencrees
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And seen that Slouthe / hir holdeth in a lees
Oonly for to slepe / and ete and drynken
And to deuouren / al that othere swynken
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