Page 479
[6-text p 190]
Incipit prologus de Thopas. [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.
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
. . . . .
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.