GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII.
§ 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE.
CORPUS MS.
[THE PROEM.] [[No breaks in the Corpus MS between the stanzas.]]
[And next bigynneth the seconde nonne hir tale. &c. [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 215a]
(1)
The ministre and norice / vn-to vices
Line 1
which that men clepen / in englissh / Idelnesse
that porter of the gate is / of delices
to eschewen / and bi hir contrarie to oppresse
Line 4
that is to seyne / bi leoful besynesse
wel oughte we to don / al oure entente
lest that the fende / thorugh Idelnesse vs hente.
Line 7
(2)
ffor he that with his thousand cordes slighe
Line 8
contenuelly vs waiteth / to bi-clappe
whan he may man/ in Idelnesse aspie
he can so lightly cacche him / in his trappe
Line 11
til that a man be hente / right bi the lappe
he nys not ware / the fende hath him in honde
wel oughte vs werche / and Idelnesse with-stonde.
Line 14
(3)
And though men dradden neuere / for to die
Line 15
yit se men wel bi reson / doutelese
that Idelnesse is hoten / slogardie
of whiche cometh neuere / noon encrese
Line 18
and sithen that slouth hir holdith in a lese
only for to slepe / and ete and drynke
and to devouron / al that other swynke [MS Arch. Seld. B. 14 folio 215b]
Line 21
