GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.
§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK.
CORPUS MS.
¶ here bygenneþ þe prologe of þe clerk of Oxenford [on leaf 129, back]
SIre clerk of Oxenford oure oste sayde
ȝe ryde as stille and coy as doþ a mayde
Were newe spoused sittyng atte bord
This day ne herde I of ȝoure tonge a word
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I trowe þat ȝe studye aboute som sophime
But Salamon saiþ euery þing haþ tyme [¶ Pausacio]
ffor goddes sake beþ of bettre cheere
It nys no tyme for to stodyen heere
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Telle vs som mery tale by ȝoure fay
ffor what man þat is entred in-to play
he needes mote vnto þe play assente
But preches nat as freres don in lente
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To make vs for oure olde synnes wepe
Ne þat þy tale make vs not to sleepe [¶ Pausacio]
Telle vs som mery þing of auentures /
ȝoure termes ȝoure coloures ȝoure figures
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keep hem in store til so be ȝe enditen
by stile as when þat men to kinges writen
Spekeþ so plein at þis tyme I ȝou pray
þat we may vnderstonde what ȝe say [¶ Pausacio]
This worþi clerk benignely answerde
Oft quod he I am vnder ȝour ȝerde
ȝe han of vs as now þe gouernance
And þerfore wol I do yow obeissance
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