GROUP E. FRAGMENT VI.
§ 1. THE CLERK'S HEAD-LINK.
HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum).
¶ And here bygynneth þe Clerk of Oxenford prologe
SIr clerk of Oxenford our hoste sayde
Ȝe ryde as stille and coy as doþ a mayde /
were newe spoused sittyng at a bord
This day ne herd I of ȝour mouth a word
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I trowe ȝe study aboute som sophime
But Salomon saith euery þing hath tyme
For goddis sake as beth of better cheere
It is no tyme for to stody hiere
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Tel vs som mery tale by ȝour fay
For what man is entred vnto play
he moot nedes vnto þat play assent
But prechith not as freres doon in lent
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To make vs for our olde synnes wepe
Ne þat þy tale [ [þy scratcht out] ] tale make vs for to slepe
Tel vs som mery þing of aduentures
Ȝoure termes ȝour colours and ȝour figures
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keep hem in stoor til so be þat ȝe endite
high style as whan þat men to kynges write
Spekith so playn at þis tyme we ȝow pray
That we may vnderstonde þat ȝe say /
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This worþy clerk benignely answerde /
Sir host quod he I am vnder ȝour ȝerde
Ȝe haue of vs as now þe gouernaunce /
And þerfor wol I do ȝow obeissaunce
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