The Squire's Tale
Folio 92v
15 of 19 folios
145
And euery gras þat groweþ vpon a roote
Sche schal wel knowe and whom it wol do boote
Al be his woundes neuer so deepe and wyde
This naked swerd þat hongeth by my syde
Swich vertu haþ þat what man so ye smyte
150
Thurgħout his armour it wole kerue and byte
Were it as þikke as is a braunched oke
And what man þat is wounded wiþ þe stroke
Schal neuer be hol til þat yow list of grace
To stroke him wiþ þe plat in þilke place
155
Ther he is hurt þis is as moche to sayn
Ye moote with þe platte swerd agayn
Stroke him on þe wounde and it wil close
This is a verray soth wiþouten glose
It failleþ nougħt whiles it is in youre hold
160
And whan þis knigħt haþ þus his tale told
He rydeth out of þe halle and doun he light
His steede which þat schon as sonne bright
Stant in þe court stille as ony stoon
This knight in to his chambr is lad anoon
165
And is vnarmed and to þe mete yset
The persentes ben ful richely y fet
This is to sein þe swerd and þe mirour
And born anon vnto þe hihe tour
Wiþ certein officers ordeyned þerfore
170
And vnto Canacee þe ryng is bore
Solempnely þer . sche sitt atte table
But sikerly wiþouten eny fable /
The hors of bras þat may nat be remewed
It stant as it were to þe ground y glewed
175
Ther may noman out of þe place it dryue
For non engyn of wyndas or polyue
And cause why for þey can nouȝt þe craft
And þerfore in þe place þei han it laft
Til þat þe knight haþ taught hem þe maneere
180
To voyden him as ȝe schal after heere