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Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune Of purveyaunce of God, or of Fortune, That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse Wel bettre than they can hem-self devyse? Som man desyreth for to han richesse, That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse. And som man wolde out of his prison fayn, That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. Infinite harmes been in this matere; We witen nat what thing we preyen here. We faren as he that dronke is as a mous; A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous, But he noot which the righte wey is thider; And to a dronke man the wey is slider. And certes, in this world so faren we; We seken faste after felicitee, But we goon wrong ful often, trewely. Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, That wende and hadde a greet opinioun, That, if I mighte escapen from prisoun, Than hadde I been in Ioye and perfit hele, Ther now I am exyled fro my wele. Sin that I may nat seen yow, Emelye, I nam but deed; ther nis no remedye.’ Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune Of purveyaunce of God, or of Fortune, That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse Wel bettre than they can hem-self devyse? Som man desyreth for to han richesse, That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse. And som man wolde out of his prison fayn, That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. Infinite harmes been in this matere; We witen nat what thing we preyen here. We faren as he that dronke is as a mous; A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous, But he noot which the righte wey is thider; And to a dronke man the wey is slider. And certes, in this world so faren we; We seken faste after felicitee, But we goon wrong ful often, trewely. Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, That wende and hadde a greet opinioun, That, if I mighte escapen from prisoun, Than hadde I been in Ioye and perfit hele, Ther now I am exyled fro my wele. Sin that I may nat seen yow, Emelye, I nam but deed; ther nis no remedye.’

Original Text

Modern Text

Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune Of purveyaunce of God, or of Fortune, That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse Wel bettre than they can hem-self devyse? Som man desyreth for to han richesse, That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse. And som man wolde out of his prison fayn, That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. Infinite harmes been in this matere; We witen nat what thing we preyen here. We faren as he that dronke is as a mous; A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous, But he noot which the righte wey is thider; And to a dronke man the wey is slider. And certes, in this world so faren we; We seken faste after felicitee, But we goon wrong ful often, trewely. Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, That wende and hadde a greet opinioun, That, if I mighte escapen from prisoun, Than hadde I been in Ioye and perfit hele, Ther now I am exyled fro my wele. Sin that I may nat seen yow, Emelye, I nam but deed; ther nis no remedye.’ Allas, why pleynen folk so in commune Of purveyaunce of God, or of Fortune, That yeveth hem ful ofte in many a gyse Wel bettre than they can hem-self devyse? Som man desyreth for to han richesse, That cause is of his mordre or greet siknesse. And som man wolde out of his prison fayn, That in his hous is of his meynee slayn. Infinite harmes been in this matere; We witen nat what thing we preyen here. We faren as he that dronke is as a mous; A dronke man wot wel he hath an hous, But he noot which the righte wey is thider; And to a dronke man the wey is slider. And certes, in this world so faren we; We seken faste after felicitee, But we goon wrong ful often, trewely. Thus may we seyen alle, and namely I, That wende and hadde a greet opinioun, That, if I mighte escapen from prisoun, Than hadde I been in Ioye and perfit hele, Ther now I am exyled fro my wele. Sin that I may nat seen yow, Emelye, I nam but deed; ther nis no remedye.’