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The Sources of Standard English.
| Þe levyþ hys messe on þe auter | ||
| For to go to a dyner. | ||
| So ne shulde he do, for no þyng, | ||
| For love ne awe of no lordyng, | ||
| But ʓyf k hyt were for a grete nede | k unless | |
| Þat shulde hym falle, or a grete drede. |
Page 269.
| Yn Northfolk, yn a tounne, | ||
| Wonede a knyʓt besyde a persone;a | a parson | |
| Fyl hyt so, þe knyʓtes manere b | b manor | |
| Was nat fro þe cherche ful fere;c | c far | |
| And was hyt þan, as oftyn falles, | ||
| Broke were þe cherche ʓerde walles. | ||
| Þe lordes hyrdes often lete | ||
| Hys bestys yn to pe cherche ʓerde and ete; | ||
| Þe bestys dyde as þey mote nede, | ||
| Fylede d overal þere þey ʓede.e | d defiled e went | |
| A bonde man say f þat, ande was wo | f saw | |
| Þat þe bestys shulde þere go; | ||
| He com to þe lorde, and seyde hym þys, | ||
| ‘Lorde,’ he seʓde, ‘ʓoure bestys go mys,g | g amiss | |
| L̄oure hyrde doþ wrong, and ʓoure knavys, | ||
| Þat late ʓoure bestys fyle þus þeso gravys; | ||
| Þere mennys bonys shulde lye, | ||
| Bestes shulde do no vyleynye.’ | ||
| Þe lordes answere was sumwhat vyle, | ||
| And þat falleþ evyl to a man gentyle; | ||
| ‘Weyl were hyt do h ryʓt for þe nones | h done | |
| To wurschyp i swych cherles bones; | i honour | |
| What wurschyp shulde men make | ||
| Aboute swych cherles bodyes blake?’ | ||
| Þe bonde man answerede and seyde | ||
| Wurdys to gedyr ful weyl leyde, | ||
| ‘Þe Lorde þat made of erþe erles, | ||
| Of þe same erþe made he cherles; |
