¶ Here bygynneth þe prologe of þe Freres tale
THis worthy lymytour þis noble Frere
he made alway a lourynge cheere
vpon the sompnour . but for honeste /
No vileyns worde . ȝit to him spak he
Line 1268
But atte last he sayd vnto þe wyf
Dame quod he . god ȝiue ȝow good lyf
Ȝe han her touchid al so mot I the
In scole matier gret difficulte
Line 1272
Ȝe han sayd mochel þing right wel I say [folio 103a]
But dame right as we ryden by þe way
Vs needeþ nouȝt but for to speke of game ·
And lete auctorites in goddes name
Line 1276
To preching and to scoles of clergie /
But if it like to þis companye /
I wil ȝow of a sompnour telle a game
Par de ȝe may wel knowe by þe name
Line 1280
That of a sompnour may no good be sayd
I pray ȝow þat noon of ȝow be euel a-payd
A Sompnour is a renner vp and doun
wiþ maundementȝ for fornicacioun
Line 1284
And is y-bete at euery tounes eende /
Our oste spak / a sir ȝe schold been heende /
And curteys as a man of ȝour estaat
In company we wol haue no debaat
Line 1288
Telleþ ȝour tale and let þe sompnour be
Nay quoþ þe sompnour let him say to me
what so him list whan it comeþ to my lot
By god I schal him quyten euery grot
Line 1292
I schal him telle which a gret honour
Is to ben a fals flateryng lymytour [[Lines 1307-8 follow wrongly here in the Six Texts.]]
And his offis I schal him telle I-wis
Our host answerd and sayd þe sompnour þis
Line 1296
And after þis he sayd vnto þe Frere
Telleþ forþ ȝour tale my maister deere [[No gap in the MS.]]
