[6-text p 183]
My connyng is to wayk o blisful queene
ffor to declare þin grete worþinesse
That I ne may þe weighte nought susteene /
But as a childe of xij monthe elde or lesse
Line 1674
That can vnneþes any word expresse /
Right so fare I and þerfore I ȝou preye
Gydeþ my song þat I schal of ȝou seye
Line 1677
[THE TALE.]
Ther was in a cite in a gret cite
Amonges cristen folk and Iewerye
Susteyned by a lord of þat cuntre
ffor foule vsure and lucre of vilanye
Line 1681
hatful to crist and to his companye
And þurgh þe strete men mighte ryde or wende
ffor it was fre and open at euery ende
Line 1684
A lytel scole of cristen folk þer stood
Doun at þe furþer ende in which þer were
Children an heepe y-come of cristes blood
That lered in þat scole ȝere by ȝeere
Line 1688
Such maner doctrine as men vsed þere
This is to say to syngen and to rede
As smale children don in here childhede
Line 1691
Among þis children was a wydewes sone
A litel clergoun vij ȝer of age
That day by day to scole was his wone /
And eek also wher he saugh the ymage /
Line 1695
Of cristes mooder hadde he in vsage
As him was taught to knele a doun and seye
his aue marie as he goþ by þe weye
Line 1698
