1994 Prospectus: Cambridge University Library Gg.4.31 (MS G) Documentary Edition Sample

Explicit tercius passus de visione

	Now ys mede the meyde   and no mo off theym all

	wyth bedeles and baylyffes   broght before the kyng

	the kyng called a clerke   I know not hys name

 4	to take mede þe meyden   & make hyr att easse

	I shall assey hyr my-selfe   & sothlyche apposen

	watt man vpon mold   that hyr were levest

	and yff she worche by my wytt   & my wyll folowe

 8	I wyll forgyve hyr thys gylt   so me god helpe

	covrtyslyche the clerke then   as the kyng hyght

	toke mede they meyde   & broght hyr In-to chambre

	and there was myrth & mynsteralcye   mede for to pleasse

12	they that wonnen att westmynster   worshypen hyr all

	gentyllych wyth Ioy   the Ivsteces came

	busked theym to the bowre   there the byrd dwellyth

	to comforten hyr kyndlych   by clergyes leyve

16	and sayd morne noght mede   ne make þou no sorowe

	for we wyll wysse the kyng [*]   and thy way shape

	to wedden att thy wyll   & were thy leve lyketh

	ffor all conscyence castes or crafte as I trowe

20	myldlych mede then   remercyed theym all

	off theyr greyte goodnes   & gaffe them echonne

	coppes off cleyne gold   & peces off syluer

	rynges wyth rvbyes   and rychesses many

24	the leest man off theyr menye   a moton off gold

	then laght they leve /  thys lordys at mede

	wyth that comen clerkes   to comforten hyr the same

	& bydden hyr be blyth   for we be thye owen

28	for to worche þi wyll   þe wyle we may last

	hendelych she then   byhyght them the same

	to loven theym leally   and lordes to make

	and In constorye at the covrte   do call theyre names

32	shall no lewdnes let þe lede / that I love

	that he ne worth furst awavnced   for I am well knoen

	there konnyng clerkes   shall clokken byhynde

	then come there a confessor   coped as a frere

36	to mede the meyden   he movthed thes wordes

	and sayd full softlye   In shryft as ytt were

	thogh lewde men & lered     had lyen by the bothe

	and falsnes had folowyd þe   þis fyftye wynter

40	I shall assoyle the my-selffe   for a seyme off weyte

	and also be thy beydman   & beyre well thy message

	amongest knyghtes & clerkes   conscyence to torne

	then mede for hyr myssdedes   to that man kneled

44	and shroove hyr off hyr [*] shrodenes   shameles I trowe

	told hym a tale   & toke hym a noble

	ffor to ben hyr beydman   & hyr bavd after

	then he assoyled hyr sone   & sythen he seyde

48	we have a wyndow In glasyng   wolle sytten vs in hie cost [*] 

	woldest þou glasse that gable   & grave therynne thy name

	syker shvld þi sovle be   heyven to have

	wyst I that quod that womman   I wold not spare

52	ffor to be your frend frere   & ffayle you neuer

	wyle ye love lordes  that leychery havnten

	and lacke no ladyes  that love well the same

	It ys a freylte off flesshe   ye ffynd ytt yn bokys

56	and a covrs off kynd   wheroff we coommen all

	wo may skape the [*] sklandre þe schathe ys sone amendyd

	ytt ys synne off the seyven   þe sonest relessed

	have marcy quod mede   off men that ytt havnten

60	and I shall couere your kyrke   your cloyster do maken

	walles do wythen   and wyndowes glasen

	do peynten & portren     & pay for the makyng

	that euery segge shall sey   I am svster off yovr hovse

64	but god to all gode men   suyche wrytyng defendyth

	to wryten In wyndowes   off theyre [*] well dedys

	for pryde ys pented there   & pompe off the world

	and cryst knoyth thy conscyence   & thy kynd wyll

68	and thy coste & thy covetyse   & wo the catell ought

	forthy I lere you lordes   leveth soyche workes

	to wryten In wyndowes   off your well dedes

	or to greden after godesmen   when ye deyle doles

72	In auentvre ye have yovr hyre here   & yovr heyven hals

	Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra et cetera

	let not thy left halve   late ne rathe

	wytt wat ye worcheth   wyth the ryght syde

76	ffor thys byddyth the gospell   good men done þer almes

	meyres & maces   that meynes be betwene

	the kyng & the commvnes   to keepe the lawes

	to puvnysshen on pylloryes   & pynyng stoles

	brewsters & baksters   bochers & kokes

Notes

17 "kyng" is altered from "kyndlye." Back

44 "?" canceled. Check MS. Back

48 "heye" is canceled and "in hie cost" is inserted. K-D think it is in a second hand. Check the MS. Back

57 "sklandre" canceled. Back

65 "yll dedes" cancelled. Back

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Copyright (c) 1994 by Hoyt N. Duggan, all rights reserved.

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Last Modified: Friday, 23-Sep-1994 13:02:08 EDT