The Multitext Edition > London, British Library MS. Lansdowne 851
The General Prologue
Folio 12r
1 of 21 folios
Ne studiethe nowht leie honde to euery man
Anone to drawe euery wight began
And schortly for to tellen riht as it was
Were it be aventure or sort or cas
845
The soþe is þis þe Cut fel on þe knyht
Of whiche ful bliþe & glad was euery whit
And tellen he most his tale as it was resōn
Bi forward & be composiciōn .
As ȝe haue herde what nedeþ wordes moo
850
And whan þis good man sawhe þat it was so
As he þat wise was & obedient
To kepen his forward behis fre assent
He seide seþþe þat .I. schal beginne þe game
What welcome be þe cut one goddes name
855
Now lat vs ride & herkeneþ what .I. seie
And wiþ þat worde we riden forþe owre weie
And he began wiþ riht amery chere
His tale anone & seide as ȝe mai here
Iam quodȝ domos patrias scitice pë aspera gentas