5. [Here begynneþ þe prolog of þe frankeleyn
[Laud MS 600 folio 171]
In faiþ squier þou hast þe wel I-quytt
And gentilli I praise wel þi witt
Quod þe frankeleyn considering þi youþe
So felyngli þou spekest sir I alouþe
Line 676
As to my dome þer is noon þat is here
Of eloquence shal be þi pere
[yf þat þou lyve / god yeve þe gode chaunce [[Haistwell MS]]
And in vertue / send the contynuaunce]
Line 680
ffor of þi speche I haue gret deynte
I haue a sone and bi þe Trinite
I had leuere þan xxti pounde worþ lond
Þough it right now were fallen in my honde
Line 684
Ye ar a man of suche discrecion
As þat ye ben fy vpon possession
But if a man be vertuous with-al
I haue my sone snybbed and yut shal
Line 688
ffor he to vertu listeþ not entende
But for to pleie at dies and to despende
And lese al þat he haþ is his vsage
And he haþ leuere talke wiþ a page
Line 692
Þan to commune wiþ any gentil wight
Where he might lerne gentilnesse a-right
Strawe for youre gentilnesse quod our host
What frankeleyn parde wel þow wost [Frankeleyn]
Line 696
Þat eche of of (sic) you mot tellen atte leste
A tale or too / or breken his beheste [Laud MS 600 folio 171b]
Þat knowe I wel quod þe ffrankeleyn certeyn [Frankeleyn]
I praie you not haueþ me in desdeyn
Line 700
