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VII. [Of a prest þat lay by a nonne.] [(Picture.)]
IN Bok we fynde, as we Rede,
Of a preest, was wylde of dede,
Þat was I-wounde in mony a vice,
But at þe laste he was not [? read so] nyce
Line 4
And to synne so wel dude wone
Þat wiþ a Nonne he hedde to done.
Þerof wolde he him not schryue
Til þat he schulde lete þe lyue.
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Ȝit he serued vre Ladi
Day bi day ful specialy,
Matyns and vres day Bi day
Of hire he seide wiþ-oute delay.
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At þe laste he fel seek,
And schulde be ded as we schulen ek.
Vr ladi þat he hedde in Reuerence
Wolde he schulde clanse his Concience,
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And þat hym fel riht wel in Mynde,
A trusti frend ȝif he mihte fynde.
A prest þer was he louede wel,
He tolde his lyf to Eueridel;
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He sykede sore and criede Merci
Þat god schulde on him haue pite forþi,
And for his synnes was sori.
He preyed þe prest ful feiþfuli
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Þat, as þei hedden be felawes long,
He schulde þenken on him a-mong
His Masse and his Almes-dede,
Þat God mihte quite hym his Mede
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And þat his soule þat was vngeyne
Þe sannore mihte passe out of peyne.
Þat oþer, þat he wolde, he seide.
After he dyȝede, In eorþe was leyde.
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ÞE prest forsoþe for-ȝat hym nouht,
But euere hedde hym in his þouht,
Al þat ȝeer, day Bi day,
He song his Masse, as I ow say,
Line 36
Þat O day he song of vre Ladi,
Þat oþer of Requiem, sikerli.
