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GROUP G. FRAGMENT VIII.
§ 1. THE SECOND NUN'S TALE.
[THE PROEM.]
& bigynneth the Secund Nonnes Tale of Seynt Cecile / with-oute a Prologe; [on leaf 195, back]
(1)
THe ministre / and the Norice vn-to vices
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which þat men clepen / in Englissh / ydelnesse
That porter at the gate is / of delices
To eschuen / & by hire contrarie / hire oppresse
That is to seyn / by leueful bysinesse
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Wel oughte we / to don al oure entente
leest þat the fend / thurgh ydelnesse vs hente
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(2)
¶ ffor he þat with his thousand cordes / slye
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Continuely vs wayteth / to biclappe
whan he may man / in ydelnesse espie
he can so lightly / cacche him in his trappe
Til þat a man be hent / right by the lappe
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he nys nat war / the fend hath him in honde
wel oughte vs werche / & ydelnesse with-stonde
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(3)
¶ And though men dradden / neuere for to dye
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Ȝet se men wel / by resōn doutelees [folio 196a]
That ydelnesse is roten / slogardrye
Of which þere neuere cometh / no good ne encrees
And syn that slouthe / hire holdeth in a lees
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Oonly for to slepe / and ete and drynke
And to deuouren / al þat othere swynke
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