GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.
§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK.
LANSDOWNE MS.
¶ Incipit prologus Clerici; [on leaf 114]
Sir Clerc of Oxenforde owre Oste seide
Ȝe ride as still and coie as doþ a maide
Weer newe spowsed sittinge att þe borde
This daie ne herde .I. of ȝoure tounge a worde
Line 4
I trowe þat ȝe stody aboute some sophime
Bot Salomon seiþe euery þinge haþe time
For godessake beþe of Better chier
It is no time for to stodie here.
Line 8
Tel vs sum mery tale be ȝoure feie [folio 114b]
For what man is entrede in-to pleie
He nedes mote vnto þe plaie assent
Bot preches nouht as freres done in lente
Line 12
To make vs for oure olde sinnes wepe
Ne þat þi tale Make us nouht to sl[e]pe
Tell vs sum Mery þinge Of Auentures
Ȝoure termes ȝoure coloures ȝoure figures
Line 16
Kepe hem in store til so be ȝe enditen
Hihe stylede as whan þat men to kinges writen
Spekeþ so pleine att þis time .I. ȝou preie
That we may vnderstonde what ȝe seie
Line 20
¶ Þis worþi clerke benyngly ansewerd
Oste quod he .I. am vnder ȝoure ȝerde
Ȝe hane of vs as noue þe gouernance
And þerfore wil .I. do ȝowe obeissance
Line 24
