GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.
§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK. [Here begynneþe þe Prologe of/ þe Clerk/ of Oxenford
CAMBRIDGE MS. [Leaves 242 and 243 (containing the Clerk's Head-Link, the painting of him, and the first 8 stanzas of the Tale) are cut out.]
[Sir Clerk/ of Oxenford oure Oste sayd [Sloane MS 1685 folio 129b]
Ye ride as stylle as Coy as dothe a mayde
Were newe spoused sittynge at þe borde
þis day ne herd/ I of youre mouthe a worde
Line 4
I trowe þat ȝe study a-boute some sophyme
But salamon saithe alle þenge hathe tyme
ffor goddes sake bethe of better/ chere
hit ys no tyme nowe to study here
Line 8
Telle vs som mery tale by your fay
ffor what man ys entred in to a play
he nedes mote into þat play assent
But precheth not as freres done in lent
Line 12
To make us for oure olde synnes to wepe
Ne þat þi Tale ne make vs not to slepe
Telle vs some mery þenge of auentures
ȝoure termes your figoures and your coloures
Line 16
kepe hem in store tyl so be ȝe hem endite
hieȝe style as when men to kynges wryte
Spekethe so playne at þis tyme I you pray [Sloane MS 1685 folio 130a]
þat we may vndirstonde what ȝe say
Line 20
This worþi Clerke benyngely vnswared
Oste quod he I am vnder your/ ȝerde
ȝe haue as nowe of vs þe Gouernaunce
And þerfore wolle I do ȝowe now obeysaunce
Line 24
