✵
Sir Orfeo
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When he was in þe roche ygo
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When he was in þe roche ygo
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Après avoir bien parcouru
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wel þre milen oþer mo,
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wel þre milen oþer mo,
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Sous le roc trois milles ou plus,
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he com into a fair cuntraye,
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he com into a fair cuntraye,
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Il vit un beau pays briller
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as briȝt so sonne on someres daye,
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as briȝt so sonne on someres daye,
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Tel le soleil un jour d’été,
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smoþe and plain and al grene,
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smoþe and plain and al grene,
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Tout verdoyant, lisse et égal –
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hille no dale nas non ysene.
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hille no dale nas non ysene.
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On n’y voyait ni mont ni val.
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Amidde þe londe a castel he seiȝ,
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Amidde þe londe a castel he seiȝ,
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Au milieu, il vit un château
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riche and real and wonder heiȝ.
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riche and real and wonder heiȝ.
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Riche, royal, follement haut.
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Al þe vtemaste wal
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Al þe vtemaste wal
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Le mur d’enceinte était brillant
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was cler and schene as cristal;
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was cler and schene as cristal;
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Comme est le clair cristal luisant ;
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an hundred tours þer were aboute,
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an hundred tours þer were aboute,
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Cent tours y étaient élevées,
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degiseliche, and batailed stoute;
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degiseliche, and batailed stoute;
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Magnifiques, bien crénelées.
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þe butras com out of þe diche,
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þe butras com out of þe diche,
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Les contreforts sortaient des douves,
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of rede golde y-arched riche;
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of rede golde y-arched riche;
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Riches arches bâties d’or rouge ;
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þe vousour was anourned al
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þe vousour was anourned al
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Les voussures étaient ornées
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of ich manere diuers animal.
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of ich manere diuers animal.
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De formes d’animaux variés.
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Wiþinne þer were wide wones
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Wiþinne þer were wide wones
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Et dedans, les salles spacieuses
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alle of preciouse stones.
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alle of preciouse stones.
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Étaient tout de pierres précieuses,
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Þe werste piler on to biholde
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Þe werste piler on to biholde
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Le pilier le plus pauvre à voir
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was maked al of burnissed golde.
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was maked al of burnissed golde.
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D’or travaillé au brunissoir.
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Al þat lond was euer liȝt,
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Al þat lond was euer liȝt,
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Toujours le pays était clair,
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for when it was þe þerke niȝt,
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for when it was þe þerke niȝt,
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Car une lueur sortait des pierres
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þe riche stones liȝte gonne,
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þe riche stones liȝte gonne,
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Aux heures sombres de la nuit
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as briȝt as doþ at none sonne.
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as briȝt as doþ at none sonne.
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Comme du soleil à midi.
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No man may telle, no þenche in þouȝt,
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No man may telle, no þenche in þouȝt,
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Nul ne peut dire ni penser
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þe riche werk þat þer was wrouȝt;
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þe riche werk þat þer was wrouȝt;
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Ouvrage de telle beauté ;
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bi alle þing him þinkþ it is
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bi alle þing him þinkþ it is
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Orfée croyait voir en ce jour
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þe proude court of Paradis.
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þe proude court of Paradis.
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Du paradis la fière cour.
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In þis castel þe leuedis liȝte;
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In þis castel þe leuedis liȝte;
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Au château les dames s’arrêtent ;
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he wolde in after, ȝif he miȝte.
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he wolde in after, ȝif he miȝte.
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Orfée, s’il peut, aussi le souhaite.
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Orfeo knokkeþ atte gate,
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Orfeo knokkeþ atte gate,
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Au portail il s’en va frapper ;
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þe porter redi was þerate,
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þe porter redi was þerate,
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Le portier y fut sans tarder,
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and asked what his wille were.
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and asked what his wille were.
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Lui demanda ce qu’il voulait.
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“Parfay!” quaþ he, “icham harpere,
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“Parfay!” quaþ he, “icham harpere,
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– Ma foi, je suis harpeur, de vrai,
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þi lord to solace wiþ mi gle,
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þi lord to solace wiþ mi gle,
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Et je réjouirai ton seigneur
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ȝif his swete wille be”.
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ȝif his swete wille be”.
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Si mon talent lui est douceur.
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Þe porter vndede þe ȝate anon,
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Þe porter vndede þe ȝate anon,
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Le portier ouvrit les vantaux
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and let him in þe castel gon.
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and let him in þe castel gon.
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Et le fit entrer au château.
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Þan gan he biholde abouten al,
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Þan gan he biholde abouten al,
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Lors, regardant à l’aventure,
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and seiȝ þer liggeand wiþin þe wal
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and seiȝ þer liggeand wiþin þe wal
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Il vit couchés dedans les murs
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folk þat þider were ybrouȝt,
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folk þat þider were ybrouȝt,
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De gens qui, emmenés là-bas,
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and þouȝte dede and nere nouȝt.
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and þouȝte dede and nere nouȝt.
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Semblaient morts, mais ne l’étaient pas.
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Sum þer stode wiþouten hadde,
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Sum þer stode wiþouten hadde,
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Certains avaient le chef tranché,
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and sum no fet no armes nadde,
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and sum no fet no armes nadde,
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Certains pieds et bras arrachés ;
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and sum þurȝ bodi hadde wounde,
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and sum þurȝ bodi hadde wounde,
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Certains étaient percés de coups,
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and sum þer laye wode, ybounde,
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and sum þer laye wode, ybounde,
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Certains étaient liés comme fous ;
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and sum y-armed on horse sete,
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and sum y-armed on horse sete,
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Certains en armes chevauchèrent,
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and sum astrangled as þai ete,
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and sum astrangled as þai ete,
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Certains en mangeant s’étranglèrent,
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and sum in water were adreinte,
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and sum in water were adreinte,
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Certains dans l’eau furent noyés,
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and sum wiþ fire were forschreinte.
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and sum wiþ fire were forschreinte.
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Certains dans le feu consumés.
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Wiues þer laye on childbedde,
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Wiues þer laye on childbedde,
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Des femmes en travail d’enfant
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sum were dede and sum awedde;
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sum were dede and sum awedde;
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Dans la mort ou l’affolement
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and wonder fele þer laye bisides,
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and wonder fele þer laye bisides,
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S’y trouvaient ; et nombre à côté
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riȝt as þai slepe her vndertides.
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riȝt as þai slepe her vndertides.
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Étaient tout comme ensommeillés ;
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Eche was þus in þis warld ynome
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Eche was þus in þis warld ynome
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Tous au monde avaient été pris
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and þider wiþ fairie ycome.
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and þider wiþ fairie ycome.
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Puis emmenés là par féerie.
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Þer he seiȝ his owen wif,
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Þer he seiȝ his owen wif,
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Il put y voir sa propre femme,
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Dame Heurodis, his leue lif,
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Dame Heurodis, his leue lif,
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Dame Heurodis, sa vie, son âme,
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slepen vnder an ympe-tre:
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slepen vnder an ympe-tre:
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Dormir sous un arbre greffé :
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bi hir wede he knew þat it was he.
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bi hir wede he knew þat it was he.
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À sa mise il n’en put douter.
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When he biheld þise meruailes alle,
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When he biheld þise meruailes alle,
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Ayant miré tous ces prodiges,
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he wente into þe kinges halle.
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he wente into þe kinges halle.
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Orfée chez le roi se dirige.
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Þan seiȝ he þer a semly siȝt,
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Þan seiȝ he þer a semly siȝt,
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Il y vit un tableau plaisant :
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a tabernacle blissful, briȝt;
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a tabernacle blissful, briȝt;
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Dessous un dais resplendissant,
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þerinne her maister king him sete,
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þerinne her maister king him sete,
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Le roi trônait, leur maître à tous,
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and her quene, fair and swete.
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and her quene, fair and swete.
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Avec sa reine belle et douce.
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Her crounes, her cloþes, schine so briȝte
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Her crounes, her cloþes, schine so briȝte
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Leurs couronnes et leurs effets
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þat vnneþe biholden hem he miȝte.
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þat vnneþe biholden hem he miȝte.
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Tant brillaient qu’ils l’éblouissaient.
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When he hadde biholden al þat þing,
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When he hadde biholden al þat þing,
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Quand il eut tout bien vu, Orfée
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he kneled adoune biforn þe king,
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he kneled adoune biforn þe king,
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Près du roi vint s’agenouiller.
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and seide: “O lord, ȝif þi wille were,
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and seide: “O lord, ȝif þi wille were,
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– Ô Sire, selon ton vouloir
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mi menstraci þou schulde yhere”.
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mi menstraci þou schulde yhere”.
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Tu pourras entendre mon art.
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Þe king answerde: “What man artow
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Þe king answerde: “What man artow
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Le roi répond : – Quel homme es-tu,
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þat art hider ycomen now?
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þat art hider ycomen now?
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Qu’ici ce jour tu sois venu ?
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Ich, no non þat is wiþ me,
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Ich, no non þat is wiþ me,
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De moi ou de ma compagnie,
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no sente neuer after þe;
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no sente neuer after þe;
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Nul appel à toi n’est parti.
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seþþen þat ich her regni gan,
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seþþen þat ich her regni gan,
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Depuis que je règne en ces lieux,
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I no fond neuer so hardi man
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I no fond neuer so hardi man
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Nul ne fut si aventureux
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þat hider to ous durste wende,
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þat hider to ous durste wende,
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Qu’il osât vers nous se tourner
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but þat ichim walde ofsende”.
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but þat ichim walde ofsende”.
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Sans que je ne l’eusse mandé.
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“Lord”, quaþ he, “trowe ful wel,
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“Lord”, quaþ he, “trowe ful wel,
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– Qu’un ménestrel je ne suis autre,
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I nam but a pouer menestrel;
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I nam but a pouer menestrel;
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Sache bien, Seigneur, et fort pauvre ;
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and, sir, it is þe manere of ous
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and, sir, it is þe manere of ous
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Et, Sire, il est dans nos façons
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to seche mani a lordes hous;
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to seche mani a lordes hous;
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De quérir les nobles maisons –
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þeiȝ we nouȝt welcome be,
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þeiȝ we nouȝt welcome be,
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Qu’on y soit ou non accueillant,
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ȝet we mot proferi forþ our gle”.
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ȝet we mot proferi forþ our gle”.
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Nous devons offrir nos talents.
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Biforn þe king he sat adoune,
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Biforn þe king he sat adoune,
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Il vient s’asseoir devant le roi,
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and tok his harpe miri of soune,
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and tok his harpe miri of soune,
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Prend sa harpe au son plein de joie,
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and tempreþ it as he wel can,
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and tempreþ it as he wel can,
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L’accorde selon son escient,
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and blissfule notes he þer gan,
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and blissfule notes he þer gan,
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Et commence un air ravissant ;
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þat alle þat in þe palais were
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þat alle þat in þe palais were
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Si bien que tous ceux du palais
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come to him for to here,
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come to him for to here,
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Pour l’écouter à lui venaient,
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and liggeþ adoune to his fete,
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and liggeþ adoune to his fete,
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Et s’étendaient devant ses pieds,
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hem þenkeþ his melodie so swete.
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hem þenkeþ his melodie so swete.
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Par la mélodie enchantés.
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Þe king herkneþ and sitt ful stille,
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Þe king herkneþ and sitt ful stille,
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Le roi assis en grand silence
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to here his gle he haþ god wille;
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to here his gle he haþ god wille;
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L’écouta avec bienveillance :
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god bourde he hadde of his gle,
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god bourde he hadde of his gle,
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La musique lui plaisait fort,
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þe riche quen also hadde he.
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þe riche quen also hadde he.
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De même qu’à la reine encore.
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When he hadde stint harping,
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When he hadde stint harping,
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Quand il a cessé de harper,
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seide to him þan þe king:
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seide to him þan þe king:
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Le roi ainsi lui a parlé :
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“Menstrel, me likeþ wel þi gle.
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“Menstrel, me likeþ wel þi gle.
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– Ménestrel, j’aime ton talent !
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Now aske of me what it be,
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Now aske of me what it be,
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Et je te paierai largement,
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largeliche ichil þe paye.
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largeliche ichil þe paye.
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Demande ce que tu voudras ;
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Now speke, and tow miȝt assaye”.
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Now speke, and tow miȝt assaye”.
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Or parle, et tu l’éprouveras.
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“Sir”, he seide, “ich biseche þe
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“Sir”, he seide, “ich biseche þe
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– Sire, dit-il, je te supplie
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þattow woldest ȝiue me
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þattow woldest ȝiue me
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De bien me donner comme prix
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þat iche leuedi briȝt on ble
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þat iche leuedi briȝt on ble
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La dame à la mine lustrée
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þat slepeþ vnder þe ympe-tre”.
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þat slepeþ vnder þe ympe-tre”.
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Qui dort dessous l’arbre greffé.
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“Nay”, quaþ þe king, “þat nouȝt nere!
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“Nay”, quaþ þe king, “þat nouȝt nere!
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– Non ! dit le roi, ce ne se peut !
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A sori couple of ȝou it were,
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A sori couple of ȝou it were,
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Quel couple vous feriez tous deux !
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for þou art lene, row, and blac,
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for þou art lene, row, and blac,
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Car tu es maigre et rude et noir,
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and sche is louesum wiþouten lac;
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and sche is louesum wiþouten lac;
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Elle est sans tache, aimable à voir.
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a loþlich þing it were forþi
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a loþlich þing it were forþi
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Ce serait donc ignominie
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to sen hir in þi compaini”.
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to sen hir in þi compaini”.
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De la voir en ta compagnie.
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“O sir”, he seide, “gentil king,
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“O sir”, he seide, “gentil king,
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– Ô Sire ! dit-il, noble roi,
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ȝet were it a wel fouler þing
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ȝet were it a wel fouler þing
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Bien plus infâme toutefois
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to here a lesing of þi mouþe,
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to here a lesing of þi mouþe,
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Serait que ta bouche mentît !
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so, sir, as ȝe seide nouþe,
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so, sir, as ȝe seide nouþe,
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Sire, ainsi que vous avez dit,
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what ich wolde aski, haue I scholde,
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what ich wolde aski, haue I scholde,
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Je dois avoir ce que je veux :
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and nedes þi word þou most holde”.
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and nedes þi word þou most holde”.
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Il te faut honorer ton vœu.
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Þe king seide: “Seþþen it is so,
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Þe king seide: “Seþþen it is so,
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Le roi répondit : – En ce cas,
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take hir bi þe hond and go;
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take hir bi þe hond and go;
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Prends sa main dans la tienne et va ;
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of hir ichil þattow be bliþe”.
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of hir ichil þattow be bliþe”.
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Aie bonne joie d’elle surtout !
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He kneled adoune, and þonked him swiþe;
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He kneled adoune, and þonked him swiþe;
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Orfée rendit grâce à genoux,
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his wif he tok bi þe honde,
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his wif he tok bi þe honde,
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Prit son épouse par la main,
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and dede him swiþe out of þat londe,
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and dede him swiþe out of þat londe,
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Et s’en alla vite bien loin
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and wente him oute of þat þede:
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and wente him oute of þat þede:
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De cette contrée, en suivant
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riȝt as he com þe way he ȝede.
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riȝt as he com þe way he ȝede.
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Le chemin pris en arrivant.
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