Incipit Prologus Coce.
THe coke of london while þe reue spakke
For Ioy him þouht he clowde him on þe bakke
Ha ha quod he for cristes passione
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This Mellere haþe a scharpe conclusione [þe koce.]
Vpon his argument of herbegage
Wele seide Salamon in his langage
Ne bringe nouhte euery man in to þine hous
For herberwynge be nyhte is perilous
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Wele ouhte a man avisede for to be
Whome þat he brouhte in to his priuete
.I. prei to god so ȝeue me sorwe and care
If euer siþen .I. hight Hogge of ware
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Herd .I. mellere better sett a werke
He had a Iape of Males in þe derke
An þere-fore if ȝe wowche saue to here [folio 53b]
Bot god for-bede þat we stente here
Line 4340
A tale of me þat am a por man
.I. wil ȝowe tel as wele as euer y can
A litel Iape þat felle in owre Citee
¶ Owre Oste ansewerde and seide .I. graunt it þe
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Now tell on Roger. loke þat it be goode
For mony a paste haste þou laten blode
And mony a Iak of douere hast þou solde
That haþ bene twis hote and twis colde
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Of Mony a pilgrim hast þou cristes curse
For of þi percelly ȝit þei fare þe wrse
Þat þei haue eten wiþ þe stoble goose
For in þi schope is mony a flie lose
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Nowe tell on gentil roger be þi name
Bot ȝit .I. prey þe be nouhte wrothe for game
A man maie seie ful loþe in game and plaie
Thou seist ful soþe quod Roger be my faie
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