Here the Host 'stynteth' Chaucer's Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 191v
1 of 2 folios
And of ladys loue drery .
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Men spekes of Romās of pise
Of horne Childe & of Ipose
Of ser Libeus & plendamour
Bot ser Thopas he bereþ þe floure
His goode steede al he be strode
And forþe vpon his weye he glode
As sparkeles oute of þe bronde
Vpon his creste he bare a toure
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And þer in stiked a lyly floure
God schelde his corps fro schonde
And for he was a knyht aunterous
He wolde slepen in none hous
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His briht helme was his wangere
& by him baiteþ his dextrere
No mor of þis for goddes dignite
Qd oure ost foure þou makest me
Þat also wissely god me blis
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Myn eres ake of þine darsti speche
Nowe suche a rime þe deuel .y. beteche .
This mai be wele ryme dogerel
Whie so qd .I. whie wilt þou lette me
More of my tale þan a noþer man
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Seþen it is þe best rime .I. can
By god qd he pleinly .I. þe seie
Thou schalt no langer rime here to daie
Thou doste nouht elles bot dispendes time
Sire att o worde þou schalt no longer rime
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Late see wheþer þou canste teƚƚ ouht in geste
Or teƚƚ in prose sumwhat att þe lest
In whiche þer be sume merþe & some doctrine
Gladle qd .I. be goddes swete pine
.I. wil ȝowe teƚƚ a litel þinge in prose
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Þat auht lyke ȝowe as .I. suppose
Or elles certes . ȝe be to daungerous