¶ And here begynneth þe sompnour his prologe
This sompnour in his styrop vp he stood
vpon þe Frere his herte was so wood
That lyk an aspen leef/ he quok for Ire
lordyngs quod he . but oon þing I desire
Line 1668
I ȝow biseke þat of ȝour curtesye
Syn ȝe han herd þis false frere lye
As suffrith me I may my tale telle
This frere bosteth þat he knowith helle
Line 1672
And god it wot . þat is litil wonder
Freres and feendes been but litel asonder
For pardy ȝe han often tyme herd telle /
how þat a frere rauyscht was to helle
Line 1676
In spirit ones by a visioun
And as an aungel . lad him vp and doun
To schewen him þe peynes þat þer were
In al þe place saugh he not a frere
Line 1680
Of oþer folk he saugh ynowe in wo
vnto þis aungel spak þis frere þo
Now sire quod he han freres such a grace
That noon of hem schal comen in þis place
Line 1684
Ȝis quod þis aungil many a mylioun
And vnto Sathanas he lad him doun
And now haþ sathanas saith he a tayl
Broder þan of a Carrik is þe sayl
Line 1688
hold vp þy tayl þou Sathanas quod he [folio 108b]
Schew forth þyn ars and let þe frere se
wher is þe nest of freres in þis place
And er þan half a forlong way of space
Line 1692
