The Knight's Tale
Folio 24v
13 of 54 folios
For in þe londe þere nas no craftiman
1040
That Geomatrie or arxe metrik can
Ne Purtreoure ne keruer of ymages
Thas Theseus ne ȝafe mete & wages
The Theatre to make & to deuise
And for to done his riht & sacrifice
1045
He Estwarde haþ vpon þe gate aboue
In worschipe of venus goddes of loue
Done maken an Auter & an Oratorie
And in þe Westwarde in memorie
Of Marce he maked haþe riht suche a noþer
1050
Þat cost largeli of gold a foþer
And Northwarde in a toret on þe walle
Of Alabastre white & rede Coralle
An oratorie riche for to se
In worschipe of Dyane of chastite
1055
Haþe Theseus don wrouht in noble wise
Bot ȝite had .I. \for/geten to deuise
Þe noble painteynge & þe purtres
The schappe þe countenance & þe figures
That weren in þese oratories þre
1060
Ferst in þe temple of venus maist þou see
Wrouhte in þe walle fupitouse to be holde
The broken slepes . & þe sikes colde
The sacrede teres & þe weymenynge
The firy strokes of desireinge
1065
That loues seruantz in þis life enduren
The oþes þat here couenantz ensuren
Plesant & hope desire fool hardinesse
Beaute & ȝouþe . bauderie Richesse
Charmes & force leseinges flaterie
1070
Dispense Besinesse & Ielowsie
That wered of ȝalowe gowldes a garlonde
And a kokkowe sittinge on his honde
Festes Instrumentes karoles daunces
Luste & arraie & al þe Circumstaunces
1075
Of loue whiche þat rekened & reken schaƚƚ
Be order were peinted on þe waƚƚ
And mo þan .I. can make of mencione
For soþeli al þe mounte of Citherone
There venus haþ hir pincipal dwellinge
1080
Was schewede on þe waƚƚ in purtreinge