The Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 189r
1 of 6 folios
Incipit prologë de Thopas
Whan seide was þis tale euery man
As sober was þat wonder was to se
Til þat oure Oste Iape be gāne
And þan att erst he loked vpon me . \ .i. Chaucer /
5
And seide þus what man ert þou qd he
Thou lokest as þou woldest finde an hare
For euer vpon þe grounde .I. se þe stare
Apprche nere & loke merely
Nowe ware ȝowe sires & latt þis man haue place
10
He in þe waste is schapen as wele as .I.
This were a popet in armes to enbrace
For any wōman smal & faire of face
He semeþe eluysche be his countenance
15
Say nowe sumwhat seþen oþere folke haþe seide
Tel vs a tale of merþe & þat anone
Oste qd .I. ne be nouht yuel apaide
For oþer tale certes can .I. none
Bot of a rime .I. lerned longe a gone
20
Ȝe þat is good \quod/ he schal we here
Sūme deynteþ þinge me þenkeþ be his chiere
LEsteneþe lordes in goo entent
And .I. wil tel verrament