The Cambridge ms (University library, Gg. 4.27) of Chaucer's Canterbury tales / edited by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 479]

[Here bygynneth þe tale. [Sloane MS 1685 folio 78a]

[AT Sarray in þe londe of Sarcarye [Sloane MS 1685 folio 78b] There dwelt / a kynge þat weryd Russye Thouȝe whiche þere dyede many a duȝty man Thys noble kynge was clepyd Kambynskan Line 12 whiche in his tyme was of so grete rennoun That þer was nouthir/ in regioun So excellent a lord / in alle þinge Hym lakkith nouȝt þat longith to a kynge Line 16 As of þe Cite whiche he was borne he kepte hys lawe to whiche þat he was sworne And þerto he was hardy wyse & ryche And pitouse & Iuste alle wey yliche Line 20 Sothe of/ hys worde benygne & honorable Of/ his corage as eney centre stable] [Camb. MS, leaf 277;part of leaf torn off; filled-in here from Sl. 1685] Ȝon[ge fresshe stronge in armes desyrous] As on[y bachelere of alle hys hous] A fayr per[son he was & fortunat] And kepte a[lle wey so wele ryalle estate] That there na[s nouthir suche a noþere man] This noble kyng [of Tartre þis Kambynskan] Line 28 Hadde two sonys on [Eltheta his wif] Of whiche the eldeste [hiȝt Algarsife] That oþer sone was clepid [Camballo] A doughtyr hadde this worth[y kynge also] Line 32 Tha^t [[ha^t corrected]] ȝyngeste was & hyghte Canace But for to telle ȝow al hire beautee It lyth not in myn tunge nyn myn kunnyng I dar nat vndyrtake so high a thyng Line 36

[6-text p 480] Line 36 Myn engelysch is ek insufficient It muste be a Rethor excellent That coude hise colouris / longynge for that art ȝif he schulde discryuyn euery part Line 40 I am non schich I mot speke as I can And so by-fil that this Cambynskan Hath twenty wyntyr boryn his diademe As he was wone ffrom ȝer to ȝeer I deme Line 44 He leet the feste of his natyuitee Doon cryen thour Sarray his Citee [The last Idus of Marche aftir þe yere [Sloane MS 1685 folio 79a] Phebus þe Sonne fulle Iolyf was & clere Line 48 ffor he was nyh · his exaltacion In martes face and his mancion In aries þe Coloryk þe hoot signe fful lusty was þe weder & benygne Line 52 ffor whiche þe foules ayeyn þe son shene what for þe seson and þe yonge grene fful lowde songe hir affecciouns hem semyd þei hade goten hem protecciouns Line 56 A-yeyne þe swerde of wynter kene & Colde This Kambynskan of whiche I haue you tolde In riall vestement syt on hys deys with a Dyademe full hiȝe in his paleys Line 60 And holte his feste sollempne & so riche þat in þis worlde ne was þere none hit lyche Of whiche yf I · shalle telle alle þe array That wolde hit occupie a somers day Line 64 And eke hit nedyth not to devise At euery cours þe ordre of h]ere seruyse [Cambr. MS] [folio 277b] [I wolle not telle of her straun]ge sewys [Ne of here swannes ne of [This line wanting in Sl. 1685, half is supplied from Harl. 1758, leaf 68, back] ] here heirounnsewis [Eke in þat londe as tel]lyn knyȝtis olde [There ys some mete þat ys fulle] deynte holde [That in þis l]ond men reche of it but smal [There ys] no man that may reportyn al Line 72

[6-text p 481] Line 72 [I wol] not taryin ȝow for it is prime [[s prime corrected]] [And] for it is no freut / but los of tyme Vn-to myn fyrste I wele han myn recours And so be-fel that aftyr the thredde cours Line 76 Whil that this kyng sat thus in his nobleye Herkenynge his mynstrall here thyngis pleye By-forn hym at the bord deliciously In at the halle dore al sodeynly Line 80 There cam a knyght vp on a stede of bras And in his hand a brood myrour of glas Vp on his thumbe he bar of gold a ryng And by his syde a nakede swerd hangyng Line 84 And vp he ridyth to the heye bord [folio 278a] In al the halle ne was there spokyn a word ffor merueyle of this knyght to be-holde fful besily they wayte ȝynge & olde Line 88 This straunge knyȝt that cam thus sodeynly Al armede saue his hed richely Saluyth kyng & queen & lordis alle By ordere as the setyn in the halle Line 92 With so heigh reuerence & obeysaunces As weel in his speche as in hise cuntenaunces That Gaweyn with his olde curteysye Thow he weere comyn aȝen out of fayrye Line 96 Ne coude hym not amendyn / with a word And aftyr thys by-fore the heye bord He wyth a manly voys seyth his message Aftyr the forme vsed in hise age [[age corrected]] Line 100 With-outyn vice of sillable or of lettere And for his tale schulde seme the bettre Acordau[n]t to hise wordis was hise chere As techith the art of speche hem that it lere Line 104 Al be that I can not soune his style Ne can not clymbyn ouyr so hegh a style ȝit seye i this as to comune entent Thus meche a-mountyth al that euere he ment Line 108

[6-text p 482] Line 108 ȝif it so be þat I haue it in mynde He seyde þ^e kyng of arabye & of ynde Myn lige lord on this solempne day Salueth ȝow as he best can or may Line 112 And sendyth ȝow in honour of ȝoure feste By me þat am al redy to ȝouere heste This steede of bras that esyly & wel Can in the space of a day naturel Line 116 This is to seyne in foure & twenty ourys Where so ȝow liste in drouȝte or ellis schouris Beryn ȝoure body in-to euery place To whiche ȝoure herte willyth for to pace Line 120 With-outyn wem of ȝow thour foul or fayr Or ȝif ȝow leste to flien as hyghe in þ^e ayr As doth an egele whan hym lyste to soore [folio 278b] This same steede schal bere ȝow euere moore Line 124 With-outyn harm tyl [[? MS y or i corrected]] ȝe been there ȝow lesten Thow that ȝe slepyn on his bak or restyn And turne a-ȝen with wrythyng of a pyn He that it wrouȝte it coude ful manye a gyn Line 128 He waytede ful manye a constelacioun Er he hadde doon this operacioun And knew ful manye a sel & manye a boond ¶ This myrour ek that I haue in myn hond Line 132 Hath swich a myȝt that men may in it se Whan there schal falle ony aduercite Vn-to ȝoure regne / & to ȝoure self also And opynly ho is ȝoure frend or [[r corrected]] foo Line 136 And ouyral this ȝif ony lady bryȝt Hath set hire herte on ony maner wyȝt ȝif he be fals sche schal his tresoun see His newe loue & al his subtiletee Line 140 So opynly that ther schal nothyng hyde Wherfore a-geyn this lusty somerys tyde This myrour & this ryng [[g corrected]] that ȝe may see He hath sent on-to myn lady Canacee Line 144

[6-text p 483] Line 144 ȝoure excellent doughtyr that is here Te vertu of the ryng ȝif ȝe wile heere Is this that ȝif hire luste it for to weere Vp-on hyre thumbe or in hire purs it beere Line 148 There is no foul that flyeth vndyr the heuene That sche ne schal weel vndyrstondyn his steuene And knowe his menyng opynly & pleyn And answere hym in his langage a-geyn Line 152 And euery gres that growyth vp on roote Sche schal ek knowe & whom it schal don boote Alle be hise woundys neeuere so deepe & wyde This nakede swerd that hangyth by myn syde Line 156 Wich wertew hath that what man þ^e smyte Thouru out his armeur it wele byte Were it as thikke as is a brauncheede ook And what man is wounded with that strok Line 160 Schal neuere be hol tyl þat þou lest of grace [folio 279a] To stroke hym with the plat / in þat place Theere he is hurt this is as meche to seyn ȝe moote with the plat swerd a-geyn Line 164 Stryke hym on the wounde & it wele close This a verray soth with-oute glose It faylyth not whil it is in ȝoure hoolld And whan this knyȝt hat thus his tale told Line 168 He rydyth out of halle & doun he lytyth His steede whiche þat schon as sunne brighte Stant in the court stylle as ony stoon This knyght is to hise chambere lad a-noon Line 172 And is on arayed & to mete I-set These presentis been ful ryally I-fet This is to seyne the swyrd & the myrour And born a-non in-to the hye tour Line 176 with serteyn offycerys [[ys corrected]] ordeynyd there fore And on to Canacee this ryng was bore Solempnely ther sche sit at þ^e table But sikyrly with-outyn ony fable Line 180

[6-text p 484] Line 180 The hors of bras that may not been remeuyd It stant as it were to the ground I-glewyd Ther may no man out of the place it dryue ffor noon engyn of wyndas or palyue Line 184 And cause whi for they can not the craft And therfore in the place they han it laft Til that þe knyght hath taughte hem the manere To voydyn hym as ȝe schal aftyr heere Line 188 ¶ Gret was the pres that swarmyth to & fro To gauryn on this hors that standyth so ffor it so high was & so brod & long So wel proporciounnyd for to been strong Line 192 Ryȝt as it were a stede of lumbardy Therto so horsely & so quyk of Iye As it a gentil poleys Courser were ffor certis from his tayl vn-to his eere Line 196 Nature ne art ne coude hym nat a-mende In no degre as al the peple wende But euere more here moste wondir was [folio 279b] How that it coude goon & was of bras Line 200 And [[nd corrected]] was as fayr as al the peple seemede Dyuers folk dyuersly they demyd As [[s corrected]] manye hedis as many wittis þere been They murmuredyn as don a swarm of been Line 204 And madyn skill aftyr here fantasyis Rehersynge of these olde poetryis And seydyn it was lik the pegasee The hors that hadde wyngis for to flee Line 208 Or ellis it was þ^e Grekis hors Synoun That brouȝte Troye to distruccioun As men in these olde gestis reede Myn herte quod on is eueremor in drede Line 212 I trowe some men of armys been þerinne That schapin hem this cete for to wynne It were right good that alle thynge were knowe A nothir rounede to his felawe lowe Line 216

[6-text p 485] Line 216 And seyde he lyede it is rathere lik An apparence mad by sum Magyk As Iogelouris pleye at these ¹festis greete¹ [[^1_1 corrected]] Of sundery doutis thus they Iangele & trete [[trete corrected]] As lewede peple demyth comounly Of thyngis that been mad more subtily Than they can in here louwedenesse comprehende They demyn gladly to the baddere ende Line 224 And some of hem wonderedyn on the myrour That born was vp in the hyghe tour How men myȝtyn in it sweche thyngis see A noþer answerde & seyde it may wel be Line 228 Naturelly by compociciounnys Of angles & of slygh reflecciouns And seydyn þat in rome was swich on They spoken of Alocen & Vituloun Line 232 And Aristotle þat wrytyn in here lyuys Of queynte Mirouris & of prospectyuys As knowyn they that han here bokys herd And oþere folk han wonderede on the swerd Line 236 That wolde partyn thour out euery thyng [folio 280a] And fille in speche of Tholophus þe kyng And of achilles with his queynte speere ffor he coude with it bothe hele & dere Line 240 Rygh in swich wise as men myȝte with the swerd Of which ryȝt now ȝe han ȝoure selue herd They spekyn of sundery hardyng of metal And spoke of medycynys therwith-al Line 244 And how & whanne it schulde I-hardit be Whiche is vnknowe algate [[te corrected]] on-to me Tho speke they of Canaceis ryng And seydyn alle of that swych a wondyr thyng Line 248 Of craft of ryngis herde they neuere noon Saue that he moyses & kyng salomon Hadde a name of rounnynge in swich art Thus seyth the peple & drawyn hem a part Line 252

[6-text p 486] Line 252 But natheles some seydyn that it was Wondyr to makyn oof fern aschyn glas And ȝit ne is glas lich aschyn of fern [[fern corrected, from a lightly written fern in the margin]] But for they han knowyn it so fern There-fore chesen hire Iangelyng & hire wondyr As soore wonderyn some of on cause of ȝoundyr On ebbe on flod on gossomyr & on myst And alle thynge tyl that the cause is wist Line 260 Thus Iangele they & deeme & deuyse Til that þe kyng gan from his bord a-ryse Phebus hath left the angle meridional And ȝit ascendyng was the beste royal Line 264 The gentyl lyoun with his aldryan [[n corrected]] Whan that this tartre Cambynscan [[? MS Cambyuscan]] Ros from his bord þere that he sat ful hye To-fore hym goth the loude menstralcye Line 268 Tyl he cam to hise chambere of parementis There as they sounyn dyuerse Instrumentis That is lyk an heuene for to here Now dauncyn lusty venus chylderyn deere Line 272 ffor in the fych hire [[l corrected]] lady sat ful hyghe And lokyn on hem with a frendely Iye This noble kyng is set vp in his trone [folio 280b] This stronge knyght / is [[first it]] fet to hym ful sone Line 276 And on the daunce he goth with Canacee Here is the reuel & the Iolyte That is nat able a dul man to deuyse He muste haue knowe loue & his seruyse Line 280 And been a festelyche man as May That schulde ȝow deuyse swich aray Who coude tellen ȝow the forme of dauncis So vncouth & so frosche cuntenauncis Line 284 Swich subtyl / lokyngis & dissimulyngis ffor drede of Ialuse mennys aperceyvyngis No man but lancelot & he is deed There-fore I passe ouyr al this lustyhed Line 288

[6-text p 487] Line 288 I seye namore but in this iolynesse I leete hem tyl men to the soper dresse The styward bit spicis for to hye And ek the wyn in al this melodye Line 292 The vsscheris & the squyeris been I-goon The spicis & the wyn be comyn a-noon They ete & d[r]ynke & whan this hadde an ende Vn-to the temple as reson was they wende Line 296 The seruyse doun they soupyn al be day What nedyth [[m corrected]] me reherce al here a-ray Eche man wiste wel þat a kyngis feste [[first e corrected]] Hath plente to meste & ek to leste Line 300 And deynteis moo than been to myn knowyng At aftyr sopir goth this noble kyng To seen this hors of bras with al the route Of lordis & of ladyis hym a-boute Line 304 Swich wonderyng was on this hors of bras That syn the greete sege of Troye was Ne was there swich a wonderyng as was tho There as men wonderedyn on an hors also Line 308 But finally this kyng askyth this knyght The vertu of this courser & the myȝt And preyede hym to telle his gouernaunce This hors anon be-gan to tryppe & daunce Line 312 Whan that this knyght leyde hand vp-on his regne [folio 281a] And seyde sire there nys no moore to seyne But whan thu lyste to ryde any where ȝe mote trylle a pyn stant in his eere Line 316 Whiche I schal ȝow telle be-twyxe vs two ȝe mote nemenyn hym to what place also Or to wat cuntre þat thow lyste to ryde And whan ȝe come there as ȝow leste abyde Line 320 Bydde hym discende & trylle a nothir pyn ffor theere lyth theffect of al the gyn And he wele doun descende & don ȝoure wille And in that place he wele stonde stylle Line 324

[6-text p 488] Line 324 Thow al the world the contrarye haddyn swore He schal not thens been drawe ne bore Or ȝif þou wit bidde hym thenys goon Trille this pyn & he wele vanyche a-noon Line 328 Out of the syȝte of euery maneere wyȝt And come a-geyn be it day or nyght Whan that þou lystist to clepyn hym a-geyn In swich a gyse as I schal to ȝow seyn Line 332 Bi-twixe ȝow & hym & that ful sone Ride whan þou lyste there is no moore to doone Enformede whan that kyng was of that knyght And hath conseyuid in his wit a ryȝt Line 336 The manere & the forme of al this thyng Thus glad & blythe this nobele kyng Repeyrith to his reuel as by-foryn The brydyl is in to the tour I-boryn Line 340 And kept a-mong hyse [[ew corrected]] Iewelys leue & deere The hors vanyschit I not in what maneere Out of hire syȝte ȝe gete no more of me But thus I lete in lust & iolyte Line 344 This Cambiscan hese lordis festenynge Tyl wol nygh þe day be-gan to sprynge

Secunda pars

THe noryce of digestyoun the sleep Gan on hem wynke & bad hem take kep Line 348 That muche drynk & labour wolde han reste And with a galpynge mouth hem alle keste [folio 281b] And seyde it was tyme to lye a-doun ffor blood was in his domynacioun Line 352 Cherisshet blod naturys frend quod he They thankyn hym galpynge bi too by thre And euery wyght gan drawyn hym to his reste As slep hem hadde they take it for the beste Line 356

[6-text p 489] Line 356 Here dremys schul not been told for me fful weere here heedys of fumositee That causeth drem of whiche þere is no charge They slepyn tyl it was pryme large Line 360 The moste part but it were Canacee Sche was ful mesurable as wemen bee ffor of hire fadyr hadde sche takyn leue To gon to reste sone aftyr it was eue Line 364 Hire lyste not appallid for to bee Nor on the morwe onfestelyche for to se And slepte hire fyrste sleep & thanne a-wok ffor swich a slep sche [[? MS e]] in hire herte tok Line 368 Bothe of hyre queynte ryng & hire Mirour That twenty tyme sche [[? MS schangede]] changede hire colour And in hire sleep ryȝt for imprescioun Of hire Mirour sche hadde a visioun Line 372 Where fore the sunne gan vp glyde Sche clepede on hire maysteresse hire be syde And seyde þat hire luste for to ryse [[s corrected]] These olde wemen that been gladly wyse Line 376 As is hire Maysteresse answerede hire a-non And seyde madame wheþer wele ȝe goon Thus erly for the folk been alle at reste I wele quod sche a-ryse for me leste Line 380 No lengere for to slepe & walke a-boūte Hire Maystresse clepid wemen a greet route And vp they ryse weel a ten or twelue Vp rysyth frossche Canace hire selve Line 384 As rody as brygh as doth the ȝonge sunne That in the Ram is foure degreis vpronne Noon heyere was he / whan sche redy was [folio 282a] And forth sche walkyth esyly a pas Line 388 A-rayed aftyr the lusty sesoun soote Lyȝtely for to pleye & walke on foote Not but with fyue or sexe of hyre meyne And in a trench forth in the park goth sche Line 392

[6-text p 490] Line 392 The vapour which that from the erthe glod Made the sunne to seme rody & brood But natheles it was so fayr a syȝt That it made alle here hertis for to lyȝt Line 396 That for the sesoun & the morwenynge And for the foulys that sche herde synge ffor ryȝt a-noon she wiste what they mente Ryȝt by here song & knew al here entente Line 400 The kn te [[? first knlte]] whi that eueri tale is told ȝif it be taryed tyl that lust be cold Of hem that han it aftyr herkenyd ȝoore The sauour passith euere lengere the moore Line 404 ffor fulsumnesse of his prolixite And by the same resoun thynkyth me I schulde to þ^e knotte condescende And makyn of hire walkynge sone an ende Line 408 ¶ A-mydde a tre fordreyed as whyt as chalk As canascee was pleyinge in hire walk There sat a facoun ouyr hire heed ful hye That with a pytous voys so gan to crye Line 412 That al the wode resounnede of hire cry I-beetyn hath sche hire self so pitously With bothe hire wyngis tyl the reede blood Ran endelyng the tree there sche stood Line 416 And euere in on sche cryede al wey & schr[i]kte And with hire bek hire seluyn so sche prykte That þere nys tygre ne non so crewel beste That dwellyth eythir in wode or in foreste Line 420 That nolde a wept ȝif that he weepe coude ffor sorwe of hire sche shrikte alwey so loude ffor there was neuere man ȝit on lyue If that I coude a facoun weel dyscryue Line 424 That herde of swich a nothyr / ȝit/ of fayrnese [folio 282b] As weel of plumage as of gentyllesse Of schap & of al that myghte I-rekenede bee A facoun peregryn thanne semeede sche Line 428

[6-text p 491] Line 428 Of fremde lond / & eueremore as sche stood Sche swounnyth now & now for lak [[or lak corr.]] of blod Tyl wel nygh is sche fallyn from the tree This fayre kyngis doughtir Canacee Line 432 That on hire fyngyr bar the queynte ryng Thour whiche sche vndyrstod weel euery thyng That ony foul myghte in hise ledene seyn And coude answere in his ledene ageyn Line 436 Hath vndyrstonde what this facoun seyde And wel nygh for the routhe almost sche deyede And to the tre sche goth ful hastyly And on this facoun lokyth pitously Line 440 And held hire lappe a-brod for well sche wyste The facoun muste falle from the twyste Whan that it swounnede next for lak of blood A long while to waytyn hire sche stood Line 444 Til at the laste sche spak in this maneere Vn-to the hauk as ȝe schul aftyr here ¶ What is the cause ȝif it be for to telle That ȝe been in this furyal peyne of helle Line 448 Quod Canace vn-to this hauk a-boue Is this for sorwe of deth or los of loue ffor as I trowe these been causys two That causyn most a gentyl herte wo Line 452 Of oþer harm it needyth not to spekyn ffor ȝe ȝoure self vp-on ȝoure self ben wrekyn Whiche previth weel that eythir loue or drede Moot been enchesoun of ȝoure crewel deede Line 456 Syn that I se non oþer wight ȝow chace ffor loue of god as doth ȝoure self sum grace Or what may been ȝoure helpe for west nor est Ne saugh I neuere er now no brid ne beste Line 460 That ferde with hym self so pitously Ȝe sle me wyth ȝoure sorwe verrayly I haue of ȝow so greet compassioun [folio 283a] ffor godis loue come from the tre a-doun Line 464

[6-text p 492] Line 464 And as I am kyngis doughtyr trewe ȝif that I verrayly the cause knewe Of ȝoure deseese ȝif it lay in myn mygh[t] I wole amendyn it er it weere nyght Line 468 As wisely helpe me greete god of kynde And erbis schal I ryȝt I-nowe fynde To heele with ȝoure hurtis hastely Tho schrykt this facoun moore ȝit pitously Line 472 Than euere sche dede & fyl to grounde a-noon And lith [[lith corrected]] a swounne ded lych a stoon Tyl canace hath in hire lappe hire take Vn-to the tyme sche gan of swow a-wake Line 476 And aftyr that sche of hire swow a-breyde Rygh in hire haukys ledene thus sche seyde That pete rennyth sone in gentyl herte ffelynge his simylitud in peynys smerte Line 480 Is preuyd alday as men may it I-se As weel by werk as by autorite ffor gentyl herte kytheth gentillesse I se weel ȝe han of myn distresse Line 484 Compassioun myn fayre Canacee Of verray womanly benygnetee That nature in ȝoure prynciples han I-set But for noon hope for to fare the bet Line 488 But for to obeye vnto ȝoure herte free And for to makyn oþere / be war by me And bi the whelp chastysed is the lyoun Rygh for that cause & for that conclusioun Line 492 Whil that I haue a leyser & a space Myn harm I wele confesse er I pace And euere whil that on hire tolde That othir wepte as sche to watyr wolde Line 496 Tyl that the facoun bad hire to been stylle And wyth a syk ryȝt thus sche seyde hire tille ¶ That I was brad allas that harde day And fosterede in a roche of marbyl gray Line 500

[6-text p 493] Line 500 So tenderely eylyth / it [[t corrected]] eylede me [folio 283b] I nyste [[y corrected]] not what was aduercyte Tyl I coude fle ful hye vndyr the skye Tho dwellede a tercelet me faste bye Line 504 That semede weel of alle gentillesse Al weere he ful of tresoun & falsenesse It was so wrappid vndyr humble chire And vndyr hewe of trouthe in swych maneere Line 508 Vndyr plesaunce & vndyr bisy pyne That I not [[a word scratcht out]] cude a wend he coude feyne So deepe in greyn he dyede his colourys Ryȝt as a serpent hid hym vndyr flourys Line 512 Tyl he may seen his tyme for to byte Rygh so this god of loue this ypocryte Doth so hise sermonys & obeysauncis And kepyth in semblaunt alle hise⁴ cuntenauncys⁴ [[^4_4 corr.]] That sounnyn in to gentilesse of loue As in a toumbe is al the fayrenesse a-boue And vndir is þ^e cors swich as ȝe woot Swich was this ypocryte bothe cold & hoot Line 520 And in this wise he seruede his entent That saue the feend non wiste what he ment Til he so longe hadde wepid & compleyned And manye a ȝeer his seruyse to me feynyd Line 524 Tyl that myn herte to pitous & to nyce Al innocent of his crounede malyce ffor-fered of his deth as thoughte me Vp-on hise othis & hise seuretee Line 528 Grauntede hym loue vp-on this condicioun [[is condicioun corrected]] That euere more myn honour & renoun Were sauyd bothe priue & apert This is to seyne that aftyr his desert Line 532 I ȝaf hym al myn herte & al myn thought God wot & he / þat oþerwyse noght And tok his hert in chong of myn for ay But soth is seyd goon sithe manye a day Line 536

[6-text p 494] Line 536 A trewe wigh & a thef thynkyn nat oon And whan he saugh the thyng so fer a-goon That I hadde grauntede fully myn looue [folio 284a] In swich a gise as it was seyd a-boue Line 540 And ȝeuyn hym myn trewe herte as fre As he swoor he ȝaf his herte to me A-non this tigre ful of doubilnesse ffil on hise kneis with so deuout humblesse Line 544 With so high reuerence as bi hire cheere So lyk a gentil louere of manere So rauyschid as it semede for the Ioye That neuere Troylis Ne parys of Troye Line 548 Iason certis ne non oþer man Syn lameth was / þat aldyrferst be-gan To louyn too as wrytyn folk by-forn Ne neuere syn the fyrste man was born Line 552 Ne coude man by twenty thousent part Countyrfete the sophemys of his art Ne were worthi onbokele his galoche There doubilnesse or feynynge schulde aproche Line 556 Ne so coude thanke a whit as he dede me His manere was an heuene for to se To ony weman were [s]che neuere so wys So peyntede he & kembede at poynt deuys Line 560 As weel hise wordis as hise contenaunce And I louede hym for his obeysaunce And for the trouthe I demede in his herte That ȝif so were that ony thyng hym smerte Line 564 Al were it neuere so lyte & I it wiste Me thouȝte I felte deth myn herte twyste And schortely so fer forth this thyng went That myn wil was his willis instrument Line 568 This is to seye myn wil obeyede his wil In alle thynge as fer as resoun fil Kepynge the boundis of myn worchepe euere Ne neuere hadde I thyng so leef ne leuere Line 572

[6-text p 495] Line 572 As hym god wot ne neuere schal no mo This lastede lengere than a ȝeer or twe That I supposede of hire not but good But finally thus at the laste it stood Line 576 That fortune wolde that he muste twynne [folio 284b] Out of that place which that he is inne Where me was woo that is no questyoun I can not make of it discripcioun Line 580 ffor on thyng dar I telle baldely I knowe what is the peyne of deth therby Swich harm I felte for he ne myȝte beleue So on a day of me he tok his leue Line 584 So sorwefully ek that I wende verrayly That he hade felt as meche harm as I Whan that I herde hym speke & saw his hewe But natheles I thoute he was so trewe Line 588 And ek that he repeyre schulde ageyn With-inne a lytil while sotth to seyn And resoun wolde ek that he moste go ffor his honour as ofte it happith so Line 592 That I maade vertu of necescitee And tok it weel syn that it muste bee As I best myghte I hidde from hym myn sorwe And tok hym by the hond seynt Iohn to borw Line 596 And seyde hym thus lo I am ȝourys al [[MS alle schalle, with le dotted under]] Beth swich as I to ȝow haue been & schal [[MS alle schalle, with le dotted under]] What he answerde it nedyth not reherce Who can seye bet than he / ho can seye werse Line 600 Whan he hath al I-seyd thanne hath he don Therefore byhouyth hire a ful long spon That schulde ete with a feend thus haue I herd seye So at the laste he mote forth his weye Line 604 And forth he flyeth til he cam there hym leste Whan it cam hym to purpos for to reste I trowe he hadde thilke tyxt in mynde That alle thynge repeyrynge to hise kynde Line 608

[6-text p 496] Line 608 Gladyth hym self thus seye men as I gesse Men loue of propyr kynde newefangilnesse As bryddys don that men in cage feede ffor thow thu nyȝt & day of hem take heede Line 612 And strawe hyre [[a word scratcht out]] cage / as softe as ony silk And ȝeue hym sugere hony breed & Mylk [[2 leaves out of the Camb. MS]] [Ȝit riȝt a none as þat hys dore ys vppe [Sloane MS 1685 folio 85b] he with hys feete wille spurne doune hys Cuppe Line 616 And to þe woode he wolle & wormes ete So newefangylle bene þei of hyr mete And louen noueleryes of propre kynde No gentyllnesse of bloode may hem bynde Line 620 So farithe þis Tarselet allas þe day Thouȝe he were gentylle fresshe & gay And goodly for to sene and humble & fre he sawe opon a tyme a kyte fle Line 624 And sodeynly he louythe þis kyte so þat alle his loue ys clene fro me goo And hathe his trouthe falsehede in þis wyse Thus hathe þe kyte my loue in hys seruyce Line 628 And I am lorne with oute remedy And with þat worde þis faucon gan to crye And swoned efte in Canaces barme [Sloane MS 1685 folio 86a] Grete was þat sorowe of þat haukes harme Line 632 þat Canacee and alle hir women made þei · nyste howe þei myȝt þe faucon glade But Canace home berithe hir in hir lappe And softely in plastres gan hir wrappe Line 636 There as she with hir beeke hathe hurte hir silfe Nowe can not Canace but erbys delue Of herbes precious and fyne of hewe Oute of þe grounde and maken salues newe Line 640 To helyn with þe hauke fro day to nyȝt Scho dothe hir besynesse & alle hir myȝt And by hir beddys hede sho made and muwe And couerid hit with velowetys blewe Line 644

[6-text p 497] Line 644 In sene of trouthe þat ys in woman sene [[Sloane 1685]] And alle with oute þe muwe ys · peyntyd grene In whiche were paynted alle þese false foules And bethe þe Tydifs terselettys & owlys. Line 648 Riȝt for dispyte were peyntid hem by syde Pyes on hem for to crye and chyde þus lete I Canace hir hauke kepynge I wolle no more as nowe speke of hir rynge Line 652 Tylle hit come efte to purpos for to sayn how þat þis faucon gate hir loue a ȝeyn Repentaunt as þe story tellithe vs By mediacion of Cambassus Line 656 The kynges sone of whiche y you tolde But hennes I wolle processe holde To speken of aventures and of batayles þat ȝit was neuere herde so grete mervayles Line 660 ffirst wolle I telle you of kambynskan þat in hys tyme many a Citee wan And aftyr wolle I speke of Algarsyf how þat he wan Theodora to his wyf Line 664 ffor whanne fulle ofte in grete perelle he was Ne hade he ben holpen by þe hors of bras And aftyr wolle I speke with Camballo [Sloane MS 1685 folio 86b] þat fauȝt in lystes with þe bretheren two · Line 668 ffor Canace or þat he myȝt hir wynne And þere I lefte I wolle a-gayne by-gynne Appollo whirlithe vp hys chare so hyȝe Tylle þat þe god Marcurius hows þe skye Line 672

Here endith þe tale of þe sqyere] [[Sloane 1685 extract stops]]