The General Prologue
Folio 2r
1 of 21 folios
For to telle ȝow of his array
His hors were goode but he was not gay
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Of fustion he wered a gepoū
Al bi smotered with his haburgoū
For he was late ycome from his viage
And wente for to don his pilgrimage
Wiþ him þer was his sone a ȝong squier
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A louyere and a lusty bacheler
Wiþ lockes crulle as þei were leyd in presse
Of .xx. ȝeer of age he was I gesse
Of his statuture he was of euene lengþe
And wonderly deliuere and gret of strengþe
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And he hadde be som tyme in Chiuachie
In Flaundres in artoys and Pykardie /
And born him wel as of so litel space
In hope to stonden in his lady grace
Embroyded was he as it were a mēde
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Aƚƚ ful of freissche floures white and reede
Synging he was or floytynge al þe day
He was als freissch as is þe monþ of may
Schort was his gowne wiþ sleeues longe and wyde
Wel couþe he sitte on an hors and fairx ride
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He couþe songes make and wel endite
Iuste and eek daunce & wel purteray & write
So hote he loued þat by nighter tale
He sleep namore þan doþ a nightyngale
Courteys he was lowly and seruisable
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And karf biforn his fader atte table
A ȝeman hadde he and seruantes namo
At þat time for him liste ride so
And he was clad in coote and hood of greene
A scheef of pocok arwes bright & keene
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Vnder his belt he bar ful þriftily
Wel couþe he dresse his takel ȝimanly
His arwes drouped nought wiþ feþeres lowe
And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe