The Squire's Tale
Folio 79v
2 of 17 folios
As of þe sette of whiche þat he was borne
10
He kepped his laye to whiche þat he was sworne
And þerto he was harde wise & riche
And pytous & Iuste alwaie y lyche
Soþe of his worde benigne & honrable
Of his corage as any Centre stable .i. centrum celi .
15
Ȝonge fressche & stronge in armes desirous
As any bachillier of al his house
A faire person he was & fortunate
And kepped alwaie so wele roiale astate
Þat þer nas nouhe where suche a man
20
Þis noble kinge þis tartaryn Cambyuskan
Had tuo sonnes on Eltheta his wif
Of whiche þe eldest hiht Algarsif
The toþer was cleped Camballo
A douhte had þis worþi kinge also
25
Þat ȝongest was & hiht Canace
Bot for to tell ȝowe al hir beaute
It liþe nouht in my tunge ne in myne sowneinge
.I. dar nouht vnder tak so hihe aþinge
Myn ynglisse eke is in sufficient
30
It most bene a Rettor excellent
That couþe vse colours longeinge for þat art
Ȝif he schold hire discryue any parte
.I. am none suche .I. most speke as .I. can
And so be fel whan þat þis Cambyuskan
35
Haþe tuenty wynter borne his Diademe
As he was wonte fro ȝere to ȝere
He lete þe feste of his Natiuite
Done crien þoruhe Sarray his Cite
Þe last Idus of Mars after þe ȝere
40
Phebus þe sonne ful Ioly was & clere
For he was nyhe his exaltacion
In Martes face & his mansion
In Aries þe Colerik þe hote signe
Ful lusty was þe weder & benygne
45
For whiche þe foules aȝein þe sone schene
What for þe seson & þe ȝonge grene
Ful loude songe hire affeccions
Hem semed han geten hem proteccions
Aȝeine þe swerde of wynter kene & colde
50
This kambyuskan of whiche .I. haue ȝow tolde