|
As thus: ye woot that every Evaungelist |
| That telleth us the peyne of Jhesu Crist |
| 255 | Ne seith nat alle thyng as his felawe dooth, |
| But, nathelees, hir sentence is al sooth, |
| And alle acorden as in hir sentence, |
| Al be her in hir tellyng difference. |
| For somme of hem seyn moore, and somme seyn lesse, |
| 260 | Whan they his pitous passioun expresse - |
| I meene of Marke, Mathew, Luc, and John - |
| But doutelees hir sentence is al oon, |
| Therfore, lordynges alle, I yow biseche |
| If that yow thynke I varie as in my speche, |
| 265 | As thus, though that I telle somwhat moore |
| Of proverbes, than ye han herd bifoore, |
| Comprehended in this litel tretys heere, |
| To enforce with th'effect of my mateere, |
| And though I nat the same wordes seye |
| 270 | As ye han herd, yet to yow alle I preye, |
| Blameth me nat; for, as in my sentence |
| Shul ye nat fynden moche difference |
| Fro the sentence of this tretys lyte |
| After the which this murye tale I write. |
| 275 | And therfore herkneth what that I shal seye, |
| And lat me tellen al my tale, I preye." |
|
|
As thus: you know that each evangelist |
| Who tells the passion of Lord Jesus Christ |
| 255 | Says not in all things as his fellows do, |
| But, nonetheless, each gospel is all true. |
| And all of them accord in their essence, |
| Howbeit there's in telling difference. |
| For some of them say more and some say less |
| 260 | When they his piteous passion would express; |
| I mean now Mark and Matthew, Luke and John; |
| Yet, without doubt, their meaning is all one. |
| And therefore, masters all, I do beseech, |
| If you should think I vary in my speech, |
| 265 | As thus, that I do quote you somewhat more |
| Of proverbs than you've ever heard before, |
| Included in this little treatise here, |
| To point the morals out, as they appear, |
| And though I do not quite the same words say |
| 270 | That you have heard before, yet now, I pray, |
| You'll blame me not; for in the basic sense |
| You will not find a deal of difference |
| From the true meaning of that tale polite |
| After the which this happy tale I write. |
| 275 | And therefore listen now to what I say, |
| And let me tell you all my tale, I pray." |
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