Page 308
[6-text p 371]
And here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe frere
This worþi lymitour þis noble ffrere
He made alway louring chere
Vpon þe somnour . but for honeste
No vyleyns word as ȝit speke he
Line 1268
But at þe last he seide vnto þe wif
Dame good god ȝeue ȝou riȝt good lyf
Ȝe han touched here also mote I the
In scole matere grete difficulte
Line 1272
Ȝe han seide mochel þing riȝt wel I seie
But dame here as we riden by þe weie
Vs nedeþ not to speken but of game
And late auctoritees a goddes name
Line 1276
To prechen and to scole eke of clergie
But ȝif it like vnto þis companye
I wil ȝou of a somnour telle a game
Parde I may wel knowe by þi name
Line 1280
That of no somnour may no good be seid
I prey þat noon of ȝou be euel apeid
A somnour is a romere vp and doun [folio 147a]
Wiþ a mendement of fornicacioun
Line 1284
And is ibete at euery townes ende
Our hoost þoo spak a . sire ȝe shuld ben hende
And Curteis as man of ȝour astat
In company we wil no debate
Line 1288
Telleþ ȝoure tale and lat þe somnour be
Nay quod þe somnour lat him say to me
What so him lest . whan it commeþ to my lott
Be god I· shal hym quyte euery grott
Line 1292
I shal him telle swich a grete honour
It is to be a flateryng lymytour
And eke of ful mony an oþer crime
Which nedeþ not rehersen at þis tyme
Line 1296
And his office I shal hym telle ywis
Our hooste answerd pees no more of þis
And afterward he seide vnto þe frere
Telle forþ ȝoure tale my owen maister dere
Line 1300
¶ Thus endeþ þe prologe of þe frere.