The Squire's Tale
Folio 278v
4 of 16 folios
115
As doth an egele whā hȳ lyste to soore
This same steede schal bere ȝow euere moore
With outȳ harm tyl ȝe been there ȝow lesten
Thow that ȝe slepȳ on his bak or restyn
And turne a ȝen with wrythyng of a pyn
120
He that it wrouȝte it coude ful manye a gyn
He waytede ful manye a constelacioū
Er he hadde doon this operacioū
And knew ful manye a sel & manye a boond
This myrour ek that I haue in mȳ hond
125
Hath swich a myȝt that men may in it se
Whan there schal falle ony aduercite
Vn to ȝoure regne / & to ȝoure self also
And opȳly ho is ȝoure frend or foo
And ouyral this ȝif ony lady bryȝt
130
Hath set hire herte on ony maner wyȝt
Ȝif he be fals sche schal his tresoū see
His newe loue & al his subtiletee
So opynly that ther schal nothyng hyde
Wherfore a geyn this lusty somerys tyde
135
This myrour & this rȳg that ȝe may see
He hath sent on to myn lady Canacee
Ȝoure excellent doughtyr that is here
To vertu of the ryng ȝif ȝe wile heere
Is this that ȝif hire luste it for to weere
140
Vp on hyre thūbe or in hire purs it beere
There is no foul that flyeth vndyr the heuene
That sche ne schal weel vndyrstondȳ his steuene
And knowe his menyng opynly & pleyn
And answere hȳ in his langage a geyn
145
And euery gres that growyth vp on roote
Sche schal ek knowe & whō it schal dō boote
Alle be hise woūdys neeuere so deepe & wyde
This nakede swerd that hangyth by myn syde
Wich wertew hath that whatmā þõ smyte
150
Thoru out his armeur it wele byte
Were it as thikke as is a braūcheede ook
And what man is woūded with that strok