The Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 324r
3 of 4 folios
Me dremede al this nyght perde
An Elf queene schal myn leman be
An Elf queene wele I haue I wis
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For in this world no woman is
Alle othere women I forsake
And to an elf queene I me be take
In to his sadyl he clomb a non
And prykyth ouyr style & ton
Til he so longe hath rydyn & goon
90
That he fond in a pryue woon
For in that cūtree was there non
Tyl that theere cā a greet geaūt
His name was sire olyfaunt
He seyde child by termagaūt
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But ȝif thow pryke out of mȳ haūt
Here is this queen of fayrye
With harpe & pype & Symphonye
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Dwellynge in this place
The child seyde also mote I the
To morwe wele I meete the
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That thow shat with thȳ laūcegay
Thȳ hauberk schal I persen if I may
Er it be fully pryme of the day
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For heere schalt thow been slawe
Syre Thopas drow a bok ful faste
This Ieaūt at hȳ stonys caste
But fayre eschapith sire thopas
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And al was thor godys gras
And thor his fayre berynge
Yit lestyth lordyngis to myn tale
Muryere thā the nyghtȳgale
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How sire Thopas with sydis smale
Hise merye men comandede hee
To make hȳ bothe gamȳ & glee
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For nedys muste he fyghte
With a geaūt with hedis thre
Of oon that schō ful bryȝt
Do come he seyde myne mynstralis
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And Gestourys for to tellȳ talys