[6-text p 183]
My connyng is to weyk o blisful queene
Line 1671
For to declare þy grete worþinesse
That I may not þis in my wyt susteene
But as a child of twelf month old or lesse
Than can vnnethes eny word expresse
Line 1675
Right so fare I and þerfor I ȝou pray
Endith my song þat I schal of ȝow say [[A break of one line in the MS.]]
Line 1677
[THE TALE.]
THer was in acy in a greet Citee
Line 1678
Amonges cristen folk a Iewerye
Susteyned by a lord of þat contre
For foul vsure and lucre of felonye /
Hateful to crist and to his compaignye /
Line 1682
And þurgh þe strete men might ride and wende /
For it was fre and open at euerich ende
Line 1684
A litel scole of cristen folk þer stood
Line 1685
Doun at þe forþer ende in which þer were
Children an heep ycomen of cristes blood
That lered in þat scole ȝer by ȝere
Such maner doctrine as men vsed þere
Line 1689
This is to say to synge and to rede
As smale childer doon in her childhede /
Line 1691
Among þese children was a widow sone
Line 1692
A litel clergeoun þat seue ȝer was of age
That day by day to scole was his wone
And eek also wher-so he saugh þymage
Of cristes moder had he in vsage
Line 1696
As him was taught to knele a doun and say /
His Aue maria as he goþ by þe way [folio 201a]
Line 1698
