The Tale

convent eke, With many a tearë trilling on my cheek, Withoutë noise or clattering of bells, “Te Deum” was our song, and nothing else, Save that to Christ I bade an orison, Thanking him of my revelatión. For, Sir and Damë, trustë me right well, Our orisons be more effectuel, And more we see of Christë’s secret things, Than borel folk, although that they be kings. We live in povert’, and in abstinence, And borel folk in riches and dispence Of meat and drink, and in their foul delight. We have this worldë’s lust all in despight Lazar and Dives lived diversely, And diverse guerdon haddë they thereby. Whoso will pray, he must fast and be clean, And fat his soul, and keep his body lean. We fare as saith th’ apostle; cloth and food Suffice us, although they be not full good. The cleanness and the fasting of us freres Maketh that Christ accepteth our prayéres. Lo, Moses forty days and forty night Fasted, ere that the high God full of might Spake with him in the mountain of Sinái: With empty womb of fasting many a day Received he the lawë, that was writ With Goddë’s finger; and Eli, well ye wit, In Mount Horeb, ere he had any speech With highë God, that is our livës’ leech, He fasted long, and was in contemplánce. Aaron, that had the temple in governánce, And eke the other priestës every one, Into the temple when they shouldë gon To prayë for the people, and do service, They wouldë drinken in no manner wise No drinkë, which that might them drunken make, But there in abstinencë pray and wake, Lest that they diëd: take heed what I say⁠— But they be sober that for the people pray⁠— Ware that, I say⁠—no more: for it sufficeth. Our Lord Jesus, as Holy Writ deviseth, Gave us example of fasting and prayéres: Therefore we mendicants, we sely freres, Be wedded to povert’ and continence, To charity, humbless, and abstinence, To persecutión for righteousness, To weeping, misericorde, and to cleannéss. And therefore may ye see that our prayéres (I speak of us, we mendicants, we freres), Be to the highë God more acceptable Than yourës, with your feastës at your table. From Paradise first, if I shall not lie, Was man out chased for his gluttony, And chaste was man in Paradise certáin. But hark now, Thomas, what I shall thee sayn; I have no text of