GROUP B. (α. FRAGMENT II.)
§ 1. MAN OF LAW'S HEAD-LINK.
HENGWRT MS.
The prohemie of the Mannes tale of Lawe.
Ovre hoost saw wel / that the brighte sonne [folio 112a]
The ark of his artificial day hath ronne
The ferthe part and half an hour and moore
And thogh he were nat depe ystert in loore
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He wiste / it was the xviijthe. day
Of April / that is messager to May
And saw wel / þat the shadwe of euery tree
Was as in lengthe / the same quantitee
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That was the body erect that caused it
And therfore by the shadwe / he took his wit
That Phebus / which þat shoon so cleer and brighte
Degrees was .xlv. clombe on highte
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And for that day / as in that latitude
It was ten at the Clokke / he gan conclude
And sodeynly / he plighte his hors aboute
¶ Lordynges quod he / I warne yow al this route
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The ferthe party / of this day is goon
Now for the loue of god / and of Seint Iohn
Leseth no tyme / as ferforth as ye may
Lordynges the tyme / it wasteth nyght and day
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And steleth from vs / what pryuely slepynge
And what thurgh necligence / in oure wakynge
As dooth the streem / þat turneth neuere agayn
Descendynge / fro the montaigne in to playn
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Wel kan Senec and many a Philosophre
Biwaillen tyme / moore than gold in cofre
ffor los of catel / may recouered be
But los of tyme / shendeth vs quod he
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