¶ Here begynneþ þe prologe of þe nonne prestes tale [on leaf 247]
HO quod þe knight goode sire nomore of þis
þat ȝe han sayde is right ynough ywis
And meche more for litel heuynesse
Is right ynough to meche folk as I gesse / [[no gap in the Corpus MS]]
Line 3960
[I sey for me . it is a grete disease [Reg. 17 D. xv folio 273b]
Where as men han bien . in grete welth and ease
To here of theyr sodayn falle alas
And the contrary is Ioy . and grete solas
Line 3964
And whan a man hath bien in pouer estate
And clymbith vp . and wexith fortunate
And ther abydith · in prosperite [Reg. 17 D. xv folio 274a]
Swiche thyng is gladsom . as it thynkyth me
Line 3968
And of swiche thynges . were goodely for to telle
Ya quod oure host . be seynt poulis belle
Ye say right soth . this monk be clappid lowde
He spak how fortune . was couered with a clowde
Line 3972
I not neuer what . and als of a tregedye
Right now ye herd . and parde no remedye
Is it for to be-wailen . and compleyn
That . that is don . and als it is a peyn
Line 3976
As ye have sayd . to here of hevynesse
Sir monke nomore of this . so god yow blisse
Yowre tale anoyeth . al this company
Swiche thyng is nat worth a boterflye] [[MS Reg. extract ends]]
ȝoure tales don vs no desport ne game
Wherfore sir monk Doun Pieres by ȝour name
I pray ȝou hertely telle vs som what elles
ffor siker nere clynkyng of ȝoure belles /
Line 3984
