"What is this world? what asketh men to have? Now with his love, now in his colde grave Allone, with-outen any companye."

"‘Right as ther deyed never man,’ quod he, ‘That he ne livede in erthe in som degree, Right so ther livede never man,’…"

"What maketh this but Jupiter the king? The which is prince and cause of alle thing, Converting al un-to his propre we…"

"If that I misspeke or seye, Wyte it the ale of Southwerk, I yow preye."

"Who hath no wyf, he is no cokewold."

"This Carpenter had wedded newe a wyf Which that he lovede more than his lyf."

"Jalous he was, and heeld hir narwe in cage, For she was wilde and yong, and he was old."

"Men sholde wedden after hir estaat, For youthe and elde is often at debaat."

"A barmclooth eek as whyt as morne milk Up-on hir lendes."

"As blak he lay as any cole or crowe, So was the blood y-ronnen in his face."