¶ Here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe ffrere /
This worþy lymytour þis noble ffrere [¶ Incipit pro|logus ffratris]
he made alway lowrynge cheere
vpon þe somnour but for honeste
No vyleynes word as ȝit spak he /
Line 1268
But atte laste he seyde vnto þe wijf
Dame goode god ȝif ȝou right good lijf
Ȝe han touched heer al so mote I þe
In scole matier gret difficulte
Line 1272
Ȝe han seid mochel þing right wel I seye
But dame heere as we ryden by þe weye
Vs nedeþ nat to speken but of game
And late auctoritees a goddes name
Line 1276
To preching & to scole eek of clergie /
But if it like vnto þis companye
I wol ȝou of a somnour telle a game
Parde ȝe may wel knowe by þe name
Line 1280
That of no somnour may no good be sayd
I pray þat non of ȝou be yuele payd
A somnour is a romere vp and doun
Wiþ amendement of fornicacioun
Line 1284
And is y-bete at euery townes ende [folio 115b]
Oure host þo spak a sire ȝe scholde ben heende
And curteys as a man of ȝour astat
In companye we wille no debat /
Line 1288
Telleþ ȝoure tale and lateþ þe somnour be
Nay quod þe somnour lat him seye to me
What so him list whan it comþ to my lot
By god I schal him quiten euery grot
Line 1292
I schal him telle such a gret honour
It is to be a flateryng lymytour
And eek of ful many an oþer cryme
Which nedeþ nat/ rehersen at þis tyme
Line 1296
And his office I schal him telle y-wys
Oure host answerde pees nomore of þis
And afterward he seyde vnto þe frere /
Telle forþ ȝoure tale my leue mayster deere
Line 1300
