Anonymous: Satire on the Retinues of the Great (HP7) (332 words)

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7. SATIRE ON THE RETINUES OF THE GREAT (1307)


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3of rybaudȝ y ryme ant rede o mi rolle,
4of gedelynges, gromes, of colyn & of Colle,
5harlotes, hors-knaues, bi pate & bi polle -
6to deuel ich hem to-lyure ant take to tolle!

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8þe gedelynges were gedered of gonnylde gnoste;
9palefreiours & pages, ant boyes wiþ boste;
10alle were y-haht of an horse þoste -
11þe deuel huem afretye, Rau oþer a-roste!

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13þe shuppare þat huem shupte, to shome he huem shadde,
14to fles ant to fleye, to tyke ant to tadde.
15so seyþ romaunȝ, whose ryht radde:
16ffleh com of flore, ant lous com of ladde.

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18þe harlotes bueth horlynges ant haunteþ þe plawe;
19þe gedelynges bueþ glotouns ant drynkeþ er hit dawe.
20sathanas huere syre seyde on is sawe:
21gobelyn made is gerner of gromene mawe.

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23þe knaue crommeþ is crop er þe cok crawe;
24he momeleþe & moccheþ ant marreþ is mawe.
25when he is al for-laped ant lad ouer lawe,
26a doseyn of doggen ne myhte hyre drawe.

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28þe rybaudȝ a-ryseþ er þe day rewe.
29he shrapeþ on is shabbes ant draweþ huem to dewe;
30sene is on is browe ant on is eȝe-brewe,
31þat he louseth a losynger, & shoyeþ a shrewe.

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33Nou beþ capel-claweres wiþ shome to-shrude;
34hue boskeþ huem wyþ botouns, ase hit were a brude,
35wiþ lowe lacede shon of an hayfre hude,
36hue pykeþ of here prouendre al huere prude.

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38whose rykeneþ wiþ knaues huere coustage,
39þe luþernesse of þe ladde, þe prude of þe page,
40þah he ȝeue hem cattes dryt to huere companage,
41ȝet hym shulde a-rewen of þe arrerage

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43whil god wes on erthe & wondrede wyde,
44whet wes þe resoun why he nolde ryde?
45for he nolde no grom to go by ys syde,
46ne grucchyng of no gedelyng to chaule ne to chyde.

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48spedeþ ou to spewen, ase me doþ to spelle;
49þe fend ou afretie wiþ fleis & wiþ felle!
50herkneþ hideward, horsmen, a tidyng ich ou telle,
51þat ȝe shulen hongen & herbarewen in helle!