THE MAN OF LAWS TALE（第2页）

forlossofchattelsmayrecoverdbe，

butlossoftimeshendeth*us，quothhe.*destroys

itwillnoteagain，withoutedread，*

norethanwillmalkinsmaidenhead，

whenshehathlostitinherwantonness.

letusnotuldethusinidleness.

"sirmanoflaw，"quothhe，"sohaveyebliss，

tel露sataleanon，asforword*is.*thebargain

yebesubmittedthroughyourfreeassent

tostandinthiscaseatmyjudgement.

acquityounow，and*holdeyourbehest*;*keepyourpromise*

thenhaveyedoneyourdevoir*attheleast."*duty

"hoste，"quothhe，"depardieuxjeoasente;

tobreakeforwordisnotmineintent.

behestisdebt，andiwouldholditfain，

allmybehest;icannobettersayn.

forsuchlawasamangivesanotherwight，

heshouldhimselfeusenitbyright.

thuswillourtext:butnathelesscertain

icanrightnownothrifty*talesayn，*worthy

butchaucer（thoughhe*canbutlewedly**knowsbutimperfectly*

onmetresandonrhymingcraftily）

hathsaidthem，insuchenglishashecan，

ofoldetime，asknowethmanyaman.

andifhehavenotsaidthem，leve*brother，*dear

inonebook，hehathsaidtheminanother

forhehathtoldofloversupanddown，

rethanovidemadeofmentioun