be_v revenge_v on_o he_o she_o may_v this_o wily_a fox_n when_o that_o the_o larcke_n can_v sing_v full_a sore_a hungry_a until_o the_o town_n he_o dress_v where_o this_o lusty_a cock_n in_o the_o gray_a morning_n weary_a of_o night_n be_v fly_v from_o his_o nest_n laurence_n this_o see_v and_o in_o his_o mind_n kest_z the_o jeopardy_n the_o way_n and_o the_o wile_n by_o what_o mean_v he_o may_v the_o cock_n beguile_v dissimule_v in_o countenance_n and_o cheer_n on_o knee_n fall_v and_o flatter_v thus_o he_o say_v good_a morn_n my_o master_n gentle_a chauntcleere_n with_o that_o the_o cock_n start_v backward_o in_o abraid_v sir_n by_o my_o soul_n you_o need_v not_o be_v afraid_a nor_o yet_o for_o i_o to_o start_v nor_o flee_v aback_o for_o i_o come_v hither_o service_n to_o you_o to_o make_v will_v i_o not_o serve_v you_o i_o be_v to_o blame_v as_o i_o have_v do_v to_o your_o progenitor_n your_o father_n full_a oft_o fill_v have_v my_o wame_n and_o send_v i_o meat_n from_o dunghill_n 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against_o this_o jolly_a may_n so_o sing_v this_o song_n be_v never_o widow_n so_o gay_a he_o be_v angry_a and_o hold_v we_o ay_o in_o awe_n and_o wound_v with_o the_o spear_n of_o jealousy_n of_o chamber_n glue_n pertoke_v full_a well_o you_o know_v waste_v he_o be_v of_o nature_n cold_a and_o dry_a since_o he_o be_v go_v therefore_o sister_n say_v i_o put_v care_n away_o for_o that_o be_v best_a remead_n let_v quick_a to_o quick_a and_o dead_a go_v to_o the_o dead_a then_o pertoke_v speak_v with_o feign_a faith_n before_o in_o lust_n without_o love_n he_o set_v all_o his_o delight_n sister_n you_o wot_v of_o such_o as_o he_o a_o score_n will_v not_o suffice_v to_o slake_v our_o appetite_n i_o hold_v here_o my_o hand_n since_o he_o be_v quite_o within_o a_o mile_n for_o shame_n and_o i_o dare_v speak_v to_o get_v a_o lad_n shall_v better_v claw_n our_o breeke_n than_o toppok_v like_o a_o priest_n speak_v full_a crous_a you_o be_v a_o very_a vengeance_n from_o the_o heaven_n he_o be_v so_o louse_n and_o so_o lecherous_a he_o have_v quoth_v she_o kittok_n more_o than_o seven_o but_o righteous_a god_n hold_v the_o balance_n even_o smite_v right_o sore_o though_o he_o be_v patient_a for_o adultery_n that_o will_v they_o not_o repent_v full_o of_o pride_n he_o be_v and_o joy_v in_o his_o sin_n and_o count_v not_o for_o god_n favour_n nor_o faith_n but_o trust_v all_o to_o riot_n and_o so_o do_v rinne_v while_o at_o last_o his_o sin_n can_v he_o skayth_n to_o shameful_a end_n and_o to_o you_o sodden_a death_n therefore_o it_o be_v the_o very_a hand_n of_o god_n that_o cause_v he_o be_v weary_v with_o the_o tod_n when_o this_o be_v say_v this_o widow_n from_o her_o swoon_n stert_n up_o on_o foot_n and_o on_o the_o dog_n she_o cry_v how_o bercke_n berry_n bowsie_a brown_a ripe_a shaw_z run_v well_o courteous_a nutticlyde_v together_o all_o without_o grudge_a see_v you_o speed_n rescue_v my_o noble_a cock_n or_o he_o be_v slay_v or_o else_o to_o i_o see_v you_o come_v 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see_v the_o water_n and_o wave_n wood_n astonish_v all_o still_o in_o a_o muse_n he_o stand_v and_o say_v better_o that_o i_o have_v bid_v at_o hame_z nor_o be_v a_o fisher_n in_o the_o devil_n name_n now_o must_v i_o scrape_v my_o meat_n out_o of_o the_o flood_n and_o i_o have_v neither_o boot_v nor_o yet_o boat_n as_o he_o be_v thus_o for_o fault_n of_o meat_n near_o wood_n look_v about_o like_o a_o wily_a soat_n under_o a_o tree_n he_o see_v a_o trip_n of_o goat_n than_o be_v he_o merry_a and_o through_o the_o hedge_n he_o hide_v and_o from_o the_o goat_n he_o steal_v her_o little_a kid_n so_o over_o the_o hedge_n unto_o the_o water_n hie_v and_o take_v the_o kid_n by_o the_o horn_n twain_o and_o in_o the_o water_n either_o twice_o or_o thrice_o he_o dowk_v he_o and_o to_o he_o can_v he_o say_v go_v down_o sir_n kid_n come_v up_o sir_n salmon_n again_o while_o he_o be_v dead_a so_o to_o the_o land_n he_o drough_z and_o of_o that_o new_a make_v salmon_n he_o eat_v enough_o thus_o 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fear_v thus_o file_v have_v the_o way_n thrice_o by_o my_o soul_n you_o make_v i_o look_v behind_o and_o upon_o my_o hotche_n my_o sinew_n may_v be_v seâ—ne_v for_o feardnesse_n full_a oft_o i_o field_v the_o wind_n now_o be_v this_o you_o nay_o but_o a_o dog_n i_o ween_v my_o think_v your_o tooth_n over_o short_a to_o be_v so_o keen_a bless_a be_v the_o bush_n that_o reave_v you_o your_o array_n cl_z fly_v burst_a have_v i_o be_v this_o day_n sir_n quoth_v the_o weather_n suppose_v i_o run_v in_o hy_o my_o mind_n be_v never_o to_o do_v your_o person_n ill_o the_o fleer_fw-la get_v the_o follower_n common_o in_o play_n or_o earnest_n prove_v who_o so_o ever_o will_v since_o i_o but_o play_v be_v gracious_a i_o until_o and_o i_o shall_v make_v my_o friend_n to_o bless_v your_o bone_n for_o sure_o good_a servant_n will_v help_v his_o master_n once_o i_o have_v oft_o time_n be_v set_v in_o great_a affray_n but_o by_o the_o rood_n so_o ray_v yet_o be_v i_o never_o as_o thou_o have_v make_v 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and_o fall_v upon_o a_o time_n pass_v to_o a_o river_n descend_v from_o a_o rotch_n unto_o a_o well_o to_o slake_v his_o thirst_n drink_v of_o the_o water_n clear_a so_o upon_o chance_n a_o selly_z lamb_n come_v near_o but_o of_o his_o foe_n the_o wolf_n nothing_o he_o wist_v and_o in_o the_o stream_n leap_v to_o cool_v his_o thirst_n they_o drink_v both_o but_o not_o of_o one_o intent_n the_o wolf_n think_v be_v all_o on_o wickedness_n the_o silly_a lamb_n be_v meek_a and_o innocent_a upon_o the_o river_n in_o a_o other_o place_n beneath_o the_o wolf_n he_o drink_v a_o little_a space_n while_o he_o think_v good_a think_v of_o none_o ill_a the_o wolf_n he_o see_v and_o rampant_a come_v he_o till_o with_o grin_a tooth_n and_o fearful_a angry_a look_n say_v to_o the_o lamb_n thou_o caitiff_a wretched_a thing_n how_o dare_v thou_o be_v so_o bold_a to_o file_v the_o brook_n where_o i_o shall_v drink_v with_o thy_o foul_a slaver_a it_o be_v alm_n deed_n thou_o for_o to_o draw_v and_o hang_v that_o shall_v presume_v with_o thy_o foul_a lip_n so_o vile_a to_o mar_v my_o drink_n and_o this_o fair_a water_n file_n the_o selly_z lamb_n quake_v for_o very_a dread_n on_o knee_n fall_v and_o say_v sir_n with_o your_o leave_n suppose_v i_o dare_v not_o say_v thereof_o you_o lie_v but_o by_o my_o soul_n i_o wot_v you_o can_v nought_o prove_v that_o i_o do_v aught_o in_o any_o that_o shall_v you_o greve_v you_o wot_v also_o that_o your_o accusation_n bear_v no_o truth_n and_o be_v against_o all_o reason_n though_o i_o can_v nature_n will_v i_o defend_v and_o of_o the_o deed_n perfect_a experience_n all_o heavy_a thing_n must_v of_o themselves_o descend_v but_o if_o some_o thing_n by_o force_n make_v resistance_n then_o may_v the_o stream_n in_o no_o way_n make_v ascence_n nor_o run_v backward_o i_o drink_v beneath_o you_o far_o ergo_fw-la the_o water_n therefore_o i_o do_v not_o mar_v also_o my_o lip_n since_o that_o i_o be_v a_o lam_n touch_v no_o thing_n that_o be_v contagious_a but_o suck_v milk_n from_o pap_n of_o my_o dam_n right_o natural_a sweet_a and_o also_o delicious_a well_o quoth_v the_o wolf_n thy_o language_n rigorous_a come_v thou_o of_o kind_n so_o thy_o father_n to_o hold_v i_o at_o bay_n till_o he_o no_o more_o can_v do_v he_o anger_v i_o and_o then_o i_o can_v he_o warn_v within_o one_o year_n and_o if_o i_o break_v my_o head_n i_o will_v be_v venge_v on_o he_o or_o on_o his_o barn_n for_o his_o spiteful_a and_o forward_o plead_v thou_o shall_v doubtless_o for_o his_o deed_n be_v dead_a sir_n it_o be_v wrong_n that_o for_o the_o father_n gilt_n the_o faultless_a son_n shall_v punish_v be_v or_o spill_v have_v it_o not_o hear_v what_o holy_a scripture_n say_v speak_v by_o the_o mouth_n of_o god_n almighty_n of_o his_o own_o deed_n each_o man_n shall_v bear_v the_o praise_n as_o pain_n for_o sin_n reward_n for_o work_n right_a for_o my_o trespass_n why_o shall_v my_o son_n have_v plight_n who_o do_v the_o miss_n let_v he_o sustain_v the_o pain_n a_o a_o quoth_v the_o wolf_n yet_o answer_v thou_o again_o i_o let_v thou_o wit_n when_o that_o the_o father_n offend_v i_o will_v refuse_v none_o of_o his_o succession_n and_o of_o his_o son_n i_o well_o may_v take_v amends_n unto_o the_o twenty_o degree_n descend_v down_o thy_o father_n think_v to_o make_v a_o strong_a poison_n and_o with_o his_o mouth_n in_o my_o water_n do_v it_o spew_v sir_n quoth_v the_o lam_n these_o two_o be_v nothing_o true_a the_o law_n say_v and_o you_o will_v understand_v there_o shall_v no_o man_n for_o wrong_n or_o violence_n his_o adversary_n punish_v at_o his_o own_o hand_n without_o process_n of_o law_n and_o evidence_n which_o shall_v have_v leave_n to_o make_v lawful_a defence_n and_o thereupon_o summon_v peremptory_o for_o to_o propone_v contrary_a or_o reply_v set_a i_o a_o lawful_a court_n i_o shall_v appear_v before_o the_o lion_n lord_n and_o true_a justice_n and_o by_o my_o hand_n i_o bind_v my_o faith_n right_o here_o that_o i_o shall_v bide_v a_o unsuspect_n assize_n this_o be_v the_o law_n this_o be_v the_o instant_a guise_n you_o shall_v pretend_v therefore_o and_o summons_n make_v against_o that_o day_n to_o give_v reason_n and_o take_v nay_o quoth_v the_o wolf_n thou_o will_v intruse_a reason_v where_o wrong_a and_o robbery_n shall_v dwell_v in_o property_n that_o be_v a_o point_n and_o part_n of_o false_a treason_n for_o to_o make_v ruth_n remain_v with_o cruelty_n by_o his_o wound_n false_a traitor_n thou_o shall_v die_v for_o thy_o trespass_n and_o for_o thy_o father_n deed_n with_o that_o anon_o he_o catch_v he_o by_o the_o head_n the_o silly_a lamb_n can_v do_v nothing_o but_o bleat_v soon_o be_v he_o dead_a the_o wolf_n will_v show_v no_o grace_n so_o drink_v his_o blood_n and_o of_o his_o flesh_n can_v eat_v while_o he_o be_v full_a and_o go_v his_o way_n apace_o of_o this_o murder_n what_o shall_v we_o say_v alace_o be_v not_o this_o ruth_n be_v not_o this_o great_a pity_n to_o make_v this_o silly_a lamb_n without_o fault_n thus_o to_o die_v morality_n the_o poor_a people_n this_o lamb_n may_v signify_v as_o evil_a man_n merchant_n and_o labourer_n of_o who_o this_o life_n be_v half_a a_o purgatory_n to_o win_v their_o food_n continual_o like_o miser_n the_o wolf_n betoken_v false_a extortioner_n and_o oppressor_n of_o poor_a man_n as_o we_o see_v by_o violence_n craft_n or_o usury_n three_o kind_n of_o wolf_n in_o this_o world_n remain_v the_o first_o be_v false_a perverter_n of_o the_o law_n which_o under_o suttill_a term_n falsehood_n mayntaine_v as_o though_o all_o be_v gospel_n that_o he_o show_v but_o without_o bribe_v the_o poor_a he_o
face_n even_o where_o i_o lie_v he_o come_v a_o sturdy_a pace_n and_o say_v god_n speed_v my_o son_n and_o i_o be_v fain_o of_o that_o good_a word_n and_o of_o his_o company_n with_o reverence_n i_o answer_v he_o again_o welcome_o father_n and_o he_o sit_v down_o i_o by_o displease_v you_o not_o my_o good_a master_n though_o i_o demand_n your_o birth_n your_o faculty_n and_o nome_fw-mi why_o you_o come_v here_o or_o where_o you_o dwell_v at_o home_n my_o son_n say_v he_o i_o be_o of_o gentle_a blood_n my_o native_a land_n be_v rome_n without_o nay_o in_o that_o town_n first_o to_o the_o school_n i_o yeude_v â–ª_o in_o civil_a law_n study_v full_a many_o a_o day_n and_o now_o my_o wone_v be_v in_o heaven_n for_o ay_o esope_n i_o hight_v my_o writing_n and_o my_o work_n be_v ken_z and_o know_v to_o many_o a_o cunning_a clerk_n oh_o master_n esope_n poet_n laureate_a god_n wot_v â—e_n be_v full_a decree_n welcome_a to_o i_o be_v you_o not_o he_o that_o all_o the_o fable_n write_v which_o in_o effect_n suppose_v they_o feign_v be_v be_v full_a of_o prudence_n and_o morality_n fair_a son_n say_v he_o i_o be_o the_o self_n same_o man_n god_n wot_v if_o that_o my_o heart_n be_v merry_a than_o i_o say_v esope_n my_o master_n venerable_a i_o you_o beseech_v most_o entire_o you_o will_v not_o deign_v to_o tell_v a_o pretty_a fable_n conclude_v with_o a_o good_a morality_n shake_v his_o head_n he_o say_v my_o son_n let_v be_v what_o do_v it_o profit_n to_o tell_v a_o feign_a tale_n when_o holy_a preach_n may_v nothing_o avail_v now_o in_o this_o world_n my_o think_v right_o few_o or_o none_o unto_o god_n word_n that_o have_v devotion_n the_o ear_n be_v deaf_v the_o heart_n be_v hard_o as_o stone_n now_o open_a sin_n without_o any_o correction_n the_o heart_n incline_v to_o the_o earth_n down_o so_o rust_v be_v this_o world_n with_o canker_n black_a that_o now_o my_o tale_n may_v little_o succour_v make_v yes_o gentle_a sir_n say_v i_o for_o my_o request_n not_o to_o displease_v your_o fatherhead_n i_o pray_v under_o the_o figure_n of_o some_o brutal_a beast_n a_o moral_a fable_n that_o you_o will_v deign_v to_o say_v who_o know_v not_o i_o may_v learn_v and_o bear_v away_o something_o thereby_o hereafter_o may_v avail_v i_o grant_v quoth_v he_o and_o thus_o begin_v his_o tale_n the_o end_n of_o the_o prologue_n and_o here_o begin_v the_o tale._n a_o lion_n at_o his_o prey_n be_v overrun_v to_o recreate_v his_o limb_n and_o to_o rest_n beke_v his_o breast_n and_o belly_n at_o the_o sun_n under_o a_o tree_n lie_v in_o the_o fair_a forest_n then_o come_v there_o a_o trip_n of_o mouse_n out_o of_o their_o nest_n right_o merry_a and_o glad_a all_o dance_n in_o their_o guise_n and_o over_o the_o lion_n vault_v twice_o or_o thrice_o he_o lay_v so_o still_o the_o mouse_n wear_v not_o afeard_a but_o to_o and_o fro_o over_o he_o take_v their_o trace_n some_o twirl_v at_o the_o muchacho_n of_o his_o beard_n and_o some_o spare_v not_o to_o claw_n he_o on_o the_o face_n merry_a and_o glad_a thus_o dance_v they_o a_o space_n till_o at_o the_o last_o the_o noble_a lion_n wake_v and_o with_o his_o paw_n the_o master_n mouse_n he_o take_v she_o give_v a_o cry_n and_o all_o the_o rest_n aghast_a their_o dance_n leave_v and_o hide_v they_o soon_o elsewhere_o she_o that_o be_v take_v cry_v and_o weep_v full_a fast_o and_o say_v alas_o the_o time_n that_o i_o come_v here_o now_o be_o i_o take_v a_o woeful_a prisoner_n and_o for_o my_o guilt_n must_v bide_v incontinent_a of_o life_n or_o death_n to_o hear_v the_o judgement_n then_o speak_v the_o lion_n to_o that_o careful_a mous_z thou_o caitiff_a wretch_n and_o vile_a unworthy_a thing_n over_o malapert_a and_o eke_o presumptuous_a thou_o be_v to_o make_v out_o over_o i_o thy_o trip_v know_v thou_o not_o i_o be_v both_o lord_n and_o king_n of_o beast_n all_o yes_o quoth_v the_o mouse_n i_o know_v but_o i_o wist_v not_o because_o yâ—_n lie_v so_o low_o lord_n i_o beseech_v thy_o kingly_a royalty_n hear_v what_o i_o say_v and_o take_v in_o patience_n consider_v first_o my_o simple_a poverty_n and_o then_o thy_o might_n and_o high_a magnificence_n see_v also_o how_o thing_n do_v of_o negligence_n neither_o of_o malice_n nor_o of_o presumption_n the_o rather_o shall_v have_v grace_n and_o remission_n we_o be_v replete_a and_o have_v great_a abundance_n of_o all_o thing_n such_o as_o to_o we_o belong_v the_o sweet_a season_n provoke_v we_o to_o dance_v and_o make_v such_o mirth_n as_o nature_n to_o we_o â—earned_a you_o lay_v so_o still_o as_o though_o you_o have_v be_v strangle_v that_o by_o my_o soul_n we_o wend_v you_o have_v be_v dead_a else_o will_v we_o not_o have_v dance_v over_o your_o head_n thy_o false_a excuse_n the_o lion_n say_v again_o shall_v not_o avail_v one_o whit_n i_o to_o thou_o say_v i_o put_v the_o case_n i_o have_v be_v dead_a or_o slay_v and_o so_o my_o skin_n be_v stop_v full_a of_o hay_n though_o thou_o have_v find_v my_o figure_n in_o the_o way_n because_o it_o bear_v the_o print_n of_o my_o person_n thou_o shall_v for_o fear_n on_o knee_n have_v fall_v down_o for_o thy_o trespass_n thou_o can_v make_v no_o defence_n my_o noble_a person_n this_o to_o vilepend_v of_o thy_o fellow_n nor_o thy_o own_o negligence_n for_o to_o excuse_v thou_o can_v no_o cause_n pretend_v therefore_o thou_o suffer_v shall_v a_o shameful_a end_n and_o death_n such_o as_o to_o treason_n be_v decree_v upon_o the_o gallows_n all_o hang_v but_o the_o head_n â–ª_o nay_o mercy_n lord_n now_o at_o thy_o grace_n i_o ask_v as_o thou_o be_v king_n of_o all_o beast_n coronate_a assuage_v thy_o wrath_n and_o let_v it_o overpass_v and_o make_v thy_o mind_n to_o mercy_n inclinate_a i_o grant_v offence_n be_v do_v to_o thy_o estate_n wherefore_o i_o worthy_a be_o as_o now_o to_o die_v but_o if_o thy_o kingly_a mercy_n pardon_v i_o â–ª_o in_o every_o judge_n mercy_n and_o ruth_n shall_v â—e_z as_o assessor_n and_o colaterall_a without_o mercy_n justice_n be_v 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