The Canon's Yeoman's Prologue
Folio 216r
2 of 6 folios
10
So swat that vnneth myght he goon
A male tweyfold vpon his croper lay
It semed that he caried lit array
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And light for somer rod this worthi man
And in myn herte to wondre I bigan
What that he was til that I vnderstood
How that his cloke was sowed to his hood
For which whan I longe had auysed me
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I demed him some Chanon for to be
His hat heeng at his bak dooun bi alaas
For he had riden more than trot or paas
As he had Ipriked like as he were wood
A clote leef he had vnder his hood
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For swote and for to kepe his heed from heete
But it was ioy for to seen him swete
His forhede dropped as a stillatorie
Were ful of planteyne and of paritorie
And whan that he was come he gan to crie
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God saue quod he this Ioly companye
Faste haue I priked quod he for your sake
Bi cause that I wolde yow a take
To riden in this mury companye
His yeman eke was ful of curtesie
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And seide syrs now in the morwe tide
Out of your hostelry I saw yow ride
And warned here my lord and my souerayne
Which that to riden with yow is ful fayne
For his desport he loueth daliaunce
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Frende for thi warnyng god yeue the good chaunce
Than seide our hoost for certeyn it wold seme
Thi lord were wys and so I may wel deme
He is ful iocunde also ther to I leye
Can he oght telle a mury tale or tweye
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Whith which he glade may this companye
Who sir my lord ye ye with outen lie
He can of murthe and eke of Iolite