The Knight's Tale
Folio 15v
57 of 63 folios
For May wil haue no sluggardie on nigħt
185
The seson prikeþ euery gentil herte /
And makeþ it out of his sleep to sterte
And siþen arise and don may obseruance
This makeþ Emelye to haue remembance
To don honour to May and for to rise
190
I cloþed was sche freissh for to deuyse /
Hir yelow her was broyded in a tresse
By hinde hir bak a yerde long I gesse
And in þe gardyn atte sonne vpriste
Sche walkeþ vp and doun and as hir liste
195
Sche gadreth floures party whit and reede /
To make a sotyl garland for hir heede
And as an angel heuenysshely sche song
The grete tour þat was so þikke and strong
Which of þe Casteƚƚ was þe chief dongeoū
200
Ther as þe knightes weren in prisoū
Of which I tolde ȝou and telle schal
Was euen ioynant to þe gardein wal
Ther as þis Emely had hir pleying
Bright was þe sonne and cler in þat mornyng
205
And Palamon þis woful prisoner
As was his wone by leue of his gailler
Was risen and romed in a chambre on heigħ
In which he al þe noble cite seigħ
And ek þe gardyn ful of branches grene
210
Ther as þe freisshe Emely þe schene
Was in hir walk and romed vp and doun
This sorwful prisoner this Palamoū
Goþ in þe chambre Romynge to and fro
And to himself compleignyng of his wo
215
That he was born ful ofte seide allas
And so byfeƚƚ by auenture or caas /
That þorugh a wyndow þikke of many a barre
Of yren gret and square as any sparre
He cast his eyghen vpon Emelya