The Seven Sages in English Verse (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1846 Excerpt: ..."Sire," quod maystir Lentulus, "I nylle, by swet Jhesus, Bot thy chylde deth by let, That he ben agayen fet, And mot lyve al this nyght Til to-morwen til day be bryght." The emperour comaunde anoon Aftyr the childe for to goon: Thorow commaundement of the emperour The childe was ladde into the tour. Lentulus was a glad man, And anoon hys tale bygane. A TALE. "Hyt was a man and hadde a wyfe, And loved hyre as hire owen lyf; Scho was both 3ong and boldc, And the housband whas holde, Hys myrth in bede bygan to slake, And scho tooke another make. In bed as thay lay in fere, The wyf aros, as $e moun here, Fram hire hosbonde thare he lay, A lytyl wyl byfore daye, Witouten dore at the 3ate Scho mete hyre lemman thare-atte. The godman withinne a while Myssyd hys wyf, and thout gyle. He ros uppe as stille as a stone, And to the dore he gane goone, And bygan ful stille to spye, And herde of hyre putrye, And went hym stille as stoone, And steke to the dore anoone. When thay hadde done thayre wyle, And spoken togydir or fylle, The wyf fonde the dore faste; Than whas scho sore agaste. Scho pute at the dore in hye, And bygan loud to crye, And badde the delve hys neke to breke That the dore hadde steke. The sylyman lay and herde, And hys wyf answerd, 1 Dame, ' he sayed, 'go thy way, Thow havest bygonne a sory play; To morwen sal oppon the gonne As many men as been in toune.' Walaway scho gan to synge, And hyr hondis for to wryng: 'Mercy, sire, I am thy spouse, For Goddys love lat me to house ' Quod the godman anoon, 'Goo thare thow hast to goon: So God almyghty gyf me wyne, Thou ne schalt to come hyre-ine, Ar alle our frendys ilkon Have gounde oppon thy body alon.' Quod the wyf, 'So moti i-thryve, I wylle nought so lange be alyve.' Hastilich within...