Page 479
[6-text p 190]
Incipit prologus de Thopas. [[No breaks in the MS between the stanzas.]] [folio 189]
Whan seide was þis tale euery man
As sober was þat wonder was to se
Ti þat oure Oste Iape beganne
And þan att erst he loked vpon me. [.id est. Chaucer]
And seide þus what man ert þou quod he
Thou lokest as þou woldest finde an hare
ffor euer vpon þe grounde .I. se þe stare
Line 1887
Appr[o]che nere and loke merely
Nowe ware ȝowe sires and latt þis man haue place
He in þe waste is schapen as wele as .I.
This were a popet in armes to enbrace
Line 1891
ffor any womman smal and faire of face
He semeþe eluysche be his countenance
. . . . . [no gap in the MS.]
Line 1894
Say nowe sumwhat seþen oþere folke haþe seide
Tel vs a tale of merþe and þat anone
Oste quod .I. ne be nouht yuel apaide
ffor oþer tale certes can I. none
Line 1898
Bot of a rime .I. lerned longe agone
Ȝe þat is good quod he shal we here
Summe deynteþ þinge me þenkeþ be his chiere
Line 1901
Explicit prologus.