The Squire's Tale
Folio 93r
14 of 19 folios
Gret was þe prees þat swarmed to and fro
To gauren on þis hors þat stondeþ so
For it so heih was and so brood and long
So wel proporciouned for to be strong
185
Right as it were a steede of lumbardye
Ther with so horsly and so quyk of ye
As it a gentil poyleys courser were
For certes fro his tail vnto his eere
Nature ne art ne couþe him nougħt amende
190
In no degre as al þe poeple wende
But euermore here mooste wonder it was
How þat it cowde gon and was of Bras
It was of Faierye as þe peple semede
Diuerse folk diuersely han demede
195
As many heedes as many wittes þer been
They murmerede as don a swarm of been
And maden skyles after here fantasyes
Rehersyng of þe olde poetries
And seyden it was lik þe Pegasee
200
The hors þat hadde wynges for to flee
Or elles it was þe Grekes hors Synoū
That broughte troye to destructioū
As men in þise olde gestes reede
Myn herte quod oon is eueremore in drede
205
I trowe som men of armes ben þer Inne
That schapen hem þis cite for to wynne
It were right good þat aƚƚ swich þing were knowe
Anoþer rowned to his felawe lowe
And seyde he lyeth for it is raþere lik
210
An apparence y maad by som magyk
As Iogelours pleyen at þese festes grete
Of sondry þoughtes þus þey Iangle and trete
As lewed peple demeþ cōmunly
Of þinges þat been more maad subtily
215
Than þey can in here lewednesse comperhende /
They demen gladly to þe baddere ende