The Tale of Sir Thopas
Folio 190r
3 of 6 folios
And as he prikeþ Norþe & est
I teƚƚ ȝowe him hadde almest
Ther springen erbes grete & smale
50
The lycoris & þe Setuale
And Notmuges to putte in ale
Wheþer it be moiste or stale
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The Birdes singen it is nouht naye
The sparhauke & þe popeniaye
Þe þrostelkoke maade eke his laye
Þe wode dowfe vppon þe spraye
60
Sche songe ful loude & clere
Sire Thopas feƚƚ in loue longeinge
An whanne he herde þe þrosteƚƚ singe
And piked as he ware woode
His faire stede in his prikeinge
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So swette þat men myht him wringe
Sire Thopas eke so wery was
For prekinge on þe soft gras
70
Þat doune he laide him in þat place
To maken his stede sum solace
What eyleþ þis loue att me
Me dremed al þis nyht perde
Ane Elfe qvene schal my lemman be
Ane Elfe queene wil .I. loue . y wisse
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For in þis world no wōman is
Worþi to be my maake in toune
Al oþer wēmen .I. for sake
And to an Elfe queen .y. me betake
85
Be dale & eke be doune
In to his sadel he cam anone
And pikeþ ouere stile & stone
Ane Elfe qwene for to aspye .