[Here begynneth þe Prolooge of þe Nunne Preoste·
[Sloane MS 1685 folio 213b]
Hoo quod / þe knyȝt gode sir / no more of thys
þat ȝe han sayde ys riȝt ynoweȝ y-wys.
And mochel more for litel hevynesse
ys ryȝt ynouȝe to mechel folk as I gesse
Line 3960
I sey for me hit ys a grete disese
Where as men han ben in grete helth & eese [Sloane MS 1685 folio 214a]
To herene of her/ sodeyn fall Alas
And þe Contrarye is. grete Ioy & solace
Line 3964
And whan a man hath ben in pore estate
And clymbith vp and wexeth fortunate
And þere abydeth in prosperite
Suche thynge ys gladsom as hit thynketh me
Line 3968
And þouȝe suche thynge were goodely forto telle
//Ye. quod/ oure hoost by Seynt Poules belle
Ye say riȝt sothe þis Monke clappeth loude
he. spake howe fortune couered with a cloude
Line 3972
I note neuere what & also of a treaide
Ryȝt/ nowe ye herd & parde no remedie
hit ys forto be-wayle & complayne.
þat þat ys done and als hit ys a payne
Line 3976
As ye haue sayd/ to here of/ hevinesse
Sir/ Monke no more of þis so god you blesse
Your/ tale annoyeth al þis companye
Suche talkynge ys not worth a butter-flyeȝ
Line 3980
And þere-in ys. no sporte nor/ no game
Where-fore Sir/ Monke doun Piers by your name
I pray you hertely telle vs som what elles
ffor siker nere clynkynge of/ your belles
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