[5c. THE TALE.]
Ther is a Chanon / of Religioun
Amonges vs / wolde enfecte al a toun
Line 973
Thogh it as greet ware / as was Niniue
Rome Alisaundre / Troye and other thre
His sleightes / and his infinite falsnesse
Ther cowthe no man / writen as I gesse
Line 977
Thogh that he myghte / lyven a þousand yeer
In al this world / of falsnesse nis his peer [Lichfield MS folio 177b]
ffor in his termes / he wol him so wynde
And speke his wordes / in so sligh a kynde
Line 981
Whan he commune shal / with eny wight
What. he wol make him / dote anon right
But it the feend be / as him self is
fful many a man / hath he begiled er this
Line 985
And wole ȝif that he may / lyuen a while
And ȝit men riden / and goon ful many a myle
Him for to seke / and haue aqueyntance
Nought knowynge / of his fals gouernance
Line 989
And ȝif ȝe lust / to ȝeue me audience
I wol it telle / here in ȝoure presence
But worschipeful Chanon / Religious
Ne demeth not / þat I sclaundre ȝoure hous
Line 993
Al thogh my tale / of a chanon be
Of euery ordre / som shrewe is parde
And god forbede / that al a companye
Shulde rewe / a singuler mannes folie
Line 997
To sclaundre ȝow / is not myn entent
But to correcten / þat is wis ywent
