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123

B. AN EPILOGUE

Now, wursheppful souereyns þat syttyn here in syth,
Lordys and ladyes and frankelens in fay,
With alle maner of abesyans we recomaunde vs ryght
Plesantly to ȝour persones that present ben in play;
And for ȝour soferyng sylens that ȝe han kept þis day
In pleyng of oure play withowte ony resystens
Derely we thank ȝow with myght as we may,
And for ȝour laudabyl lystenyng in good audiens
That we haue had this day.
And if we haue passyd ony poynt in oure pleyng,
Or moved ony materys in oure seyng
That schuld be to ȝoure personys displesyng,
We beseche ȝou reporte it not away.
For trewly oure entent was wel to do,
And if ony fawte be þer fowndyn it is oure neglygensy;
And short tyme avysement causet also,
For lytell tyme of lernyng we haue had sekerly,
And euery man is not expert in eloquensy
To vtteryn his mater gayly onto ȝour audiens.
Wherfor we beseche ȝou of ȝoure gret gentry
The best to reporte of vs in oure absens
In euery ilke a place.
Souereyns alle insame,
Ȝe that arn come to sen oure game,
We pray ȝou alle in Goddys name
To drynke ar ȝe pas;
For an ale is here ordeyned be a comely assent
For alle maner of people þat apperyn here þis day,
Vnto holy chirche to ben incressement
Alle that excedith þe costys of our play.