The Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 204v
3 of 6 folios
Whan that he herde þe briddes synge
And priked as he were wood
His faire steede in his prikynge
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So swette þat men might him wrynge
Sir Thopas eek so wery was
For priking on þe softe gras
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That doun he layd him in þe place
To make his steede som solace
And ȝaf him good forage /
What eylith þis loue at me
Me dremed al this night par de
An elf queen schal my lemman be
An Elf queen wol I haue I wis
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For in this world no wōman is
Alle oþir wommen I forsake
And to an Elf queen I me take
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By dale and eek by doune
In to his sadil he clomb anoon
And priked ouer stile and stoon
Til he so longe haþ ryden and goon
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That he fond in a priue woon
For in þat contre was þer noon ;
95
Til þat þer cam a greet geaunt
His name was sir Olifaunt
He swar child by Termagaunt
For if þou prike out of myn haunt
Heer is þe queen of fayerie
With harp . and lute and Symphonye