The General Prologue
Folio 2r
3 of 23 folios
For he was late comen from his viage
And wente for to doon his pilgrimage
With him þer was his sone a ȝong squyer
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A louyer and a lusty bacheler
With lokkes crulle as þey were layde in presse
Of twenty ȝeer he was of age I gesse
Of his stature he was of euene lengthe
And wondurly delyuer and gret of strengthe
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And he hadde ben som tyme in Chiuachie
In Flaundres in Artoys and in Picardie
And born him wel as in so litel space
In hope to stonden in his lady grace /
Embrowdid was he as it were a mede /
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Al ful of fresshe floures white and reede
Syngynge he was or flowtynge al þe day
He was as fressħ as is þe moneth of may
Schort was his goune with sleeues long and wyde
Wel cowde he sitte on hors and wel cowde he ryde /
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He cowde songes wel make and endite
Iustue and eek daunce and wel purtray and write
So hote he louede þat by nightertale
He sleep nomore þan doþ a nightyngale
Curteys he was lowly and seruysable
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And carf byforn his fadur at þe table /
A ȝeman had he / and seruantes nomoo
At þat tyme for him lust ryde soo
And he was clad in coote and hood of grene
A shef of pocok arwes brigħt and kene
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Vnder his belte he bar ful þriftily
Wel cowde he dresse his takel ȝomanly
His arwes drowpud nouȝt wiþ fetheres lowe
And in his hond he bar a mighty bowe
A not heed hadde he wiþ a broū visage
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Of woode craft cowde he wel al þe vsage
Vpon his arme he bar a gay bracer
And by his side a swerd and a bokeler
And on þat oþer side a gay daggere
Harneysed wel and scharp as poynt of spere