The Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 166r
1 of 5 folios
Here bygynneth the rehetyng of our hoost
Whanne seyde was this miracle euery man
As sobre was that wonder was to se
Til that our host iape bigan
And thenne at erst he loked vpon me
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And seide thus what man artow quod he
Thow lokest as thow woldest fynde an hare
For euer vpon the grounde I se the stare
Approche ner and loke myrily
Now war yow syres and let this man haue space
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He in the wast is as wel shape as .I.
This were a popet in armes to embrace
For eny womman smal and fair of face
He semeth eluyssh bi his contenance
For vnto no wight doth he daliaunce
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Sey now somwhat sithens othir folk han said
Telle vs a tale and of murthe anon
Host quod I ne beth nat euel apayde
For other tale certes can I non
But of a ryme I lerned yore agoon
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Ye that is good quod he now shul we here
Som deyntee thing me thinketh bi his chere
Here bigynneth Chaucers tale of syr Topias.
Listeth lordynges in good entente
And I wol telle veramente
Al of a knyght was fair and gent
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In bataille and in tornament
Iborn he was in fer contre
In flaundres al bi yonde the see
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His fader was a man ful fre
And lord he was of that contre