Page 414
[6-text p 191]
¶ Heere bigynneth Chaucers tale of Thopas. [on leaf 155, bk]
[The First Fit.]
[Each third line is on the right of its couple, in the MS.]
Listeth lordes in good entent
And I wol telle verrayment
Of myrthe and of solas
Line 1904
Al of a knyght / was fair and gent
In bataille / and in tourneyment
His name was sire Thopas
Line 1907
¶ Yborn he was / in fer contree
In flaundres / al biyonde the see
At Poperyng in the place
Line 1910
His fader was / a man ful free
And lord he was / of that contree
As it was goddes grace
Line 1913
¶ Sire Thopas / wax a doghty swayn
Whit was his face as Payndemayn
Hise lippes rede as rose
Line 1916
His rode is lyk / scarlet in grayn
And I yow telle / in good certayn
He hadde / a semely nose
Line 1919
¶ His heer / his berd / was lyk saffroun
That to his girdel raughte adoun
Hise shoos of Cordewane
Line 1922
Of Brugges / were his hosen broun
His Robe / was of Syklatoun
That coste many a Iane
Line 1925