[The prolog of Mellibe [MS Reg. 18 C II folio 196b]
NO more of this for goddes dignite
Quod oure oost for þou makest me
So wery of þin lewdenes
That also wisly god me bles
Line 2112
Myn eres ake of thi darsty speche
Now suche a ryme þe deuel I be-teche
This may be wel ryme dogerell quod he
Whi so quod I why wilt þou lette me
Line 2116
More of my tale than an other man
Sethyns it is þe beste ryme I can
By god quod he pleynly I the say
Thou shalt no lenger rymen here to day
Line 2120
Thow dost noght elles but dyspendest tyme
Sire oo word þou shalt no lenger ryme
Let see wheþer þou canst telle ought in geste
Or telle in prose somwhat at þe leste
Line 2124
In whiche þer be somme merthe & som doctrine
Gladly quod I by goddes swete pyne
I wil ȝou telle a litel thing in prose
That oughte lyke ȝou as I suppose
Line 2128
Other elles certes ȝe ben to daungerous
Hit is a moral tale vertuous
Al be hit tolde somtyme in sundry wyse
Of sondry folk as I shal ȝou deuyse
Line 2132
As þus ȝe wote wel euery euaungeliste
þat telleth vs of Ihesu Crist
Ne saith not al þing as his felawe doth
But natheles her sentence is al soth
Line 2136
And alle accorden as in her sentence
Al be ther in her tellynge difference
