The Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 189v
2 of 6 folios
Al of a knyht was faire & gent
5
In Bataile & in turnament
His name was . sir Thopas
.I. borne he was in fer contre
In flaundre al beȝonde þe see
Att Poperinge in þe place
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His fader was a man ful fre
And lord he was of þat cuntre
Sir Thopas was douhty swayne
White was his face as a peyndemayne
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His lippes reede as roose
His rode is like scarlet in greyne
And .I. ȝowe teƚƚ in goode certeyne
His here his berde was lyke safroū
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Þat to his gerdel rauht a doune
Of brugges was his hosen broune
His roob was of Ciclatoune
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He couþe hunt att wilde dere
And ride on haukeinge for þe reuer
Wiþ grey goshauke oñ honde
Therto he was a good archere
To werstelynge was þer none his pere
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Þere any man scholde stonde
Ful mony a maide briht in boure
Þei morne for his paramoure
Whane þei were bette to slepe
Bot he was chast & no lichoure
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As swete as is þe brembel floure
For soþe as .I. ȝowe teƚƚ maie
Sir Thopas wolde oute ride
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He worþe hup on his stede grey
And in his honde a lancegaie
A longe swerde be his side
He pikeþ þoruhe afaire fore
Ther inn is mony awilde best
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Ȝe boþe bukke & hare .