[THE TALE.]
¶ In Surrye whilom / dwelte a compaignye
Of chapmen riche / and ther-to sadde and trewe
That wyde where / senten hir spicerye
Clothes of gold / and Satyns riche of hewe
Line 137
Hir cheffare / was so thrifty and so newe
That euery wight hath deyntee to cheffare
With hem / and eek to sellen hem hir ware
Line 140
¶ Now fil it / that the maistres of that sort
Han shapen hem / to Rome for to wende
Were it for chaphod / or for desport
Noon oother message / wolde they thider sende
Line 144
But coomen hem self to Rome / this is the ende
And in swich place / as thoughte hem auauntage
ffor hir entente / they take hir herbergage
Line 147
¶ Soiourned han thise Marchauntz / in that town [folio 114a]
A certein tyme / as fil to hir plesaunce
But so bifel / þat the excellent renoun
Of the Emperours doghter / dame Custaunce
Line 151
Reported was / with euery circumstaunce
Vn to thise Surryen Marchauntz / in swich wise
ffro day / to day / as I shal yow deuyse
Line 154
¶ This was the commune voys / of euery man
Oure Emperour of Rome / god hym se
A doghter hath / þat syn the world bigan
To rekne as wel / hir goodnesse as beautee
Line 158
Nas neuere swich another / as is she
I pray to god / in honour hir sustene
And wolde she were / of al Europe the queene [¶ Europa est tercia pars mundi.]
