The Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 323v
2 of 4 folios
His heer his berd was lik saferon
20
That to his gerdil raughte a doun
Of brugis were hire hosyn broun
His robe was of siklatoun
25
He coude hunte at wilde deer
And ryde on haukng for ryueer
Therto he was a good archier
Of wrastelyng was theere non his pir
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Theere ony rā schal stōde
Ful manye a maydyn brygh in bour
They mornede for hȳ paramour
Whan hē were bet to slepe
But he was chast & no lechour
35
And sweete as is the brymbil flour
That beryth the rede hepe
And so it fil vp on a day
For sothe as I ȝow telle may
Sire Thopas wolde out ryde
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He worthith vp on hise stede bay
And in his hand a laūcegay
He prykyth thorw a fayr forest
Therein is manye a wylde best
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Ye bothe bukkys & hare
And as he prykyth north & est
I telle it ȝow hȳ hadde al mest
Theere sprȳgȳ erbis grete & smale
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The lycorys & the Cetewale
And manye a clowe Ielofere
And notemuge to putte in ale
Whethir it be moyst or stale
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The bryddys synge it is non nay
The sperhauk & the popȳiay
That Ioye it was to heere
The thrustilcok made ek his lay
The wode douwe vp on the spray
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Sche song ful loude & cleere
Sire Thopas fil in loue longȳge
Al whā he herde the thrustil synge
An\d/ prikede as he were wod
Hise fayre stede in hise prykynge
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So swatte that men myȝte hȳ wrȳge
Sere topas ek so wery was
For prykynge on the softe gras
70
That doū he leyde hȳ in the plas
To makyn his stede sū solas
O seynte marye benedicite
What eylyth this loue at me