Page 477
[6-text p 190]
Whan seyde was þis tale euery man
As sober was þat wonder was to se
Til þat owre Oste Iape þo bygan
And þenne at erst he loked vpon me [¶ Chaucere]
And sayde þus what man art þou quod he
Thou lokest as þou woldest fynde an hare / [folio 215a]
ffor euer vpon þe ground I se þe stare
Line 1887
Approche ner and loke meryly
Now ware ȝou sires and let þis man han place
he in þe waste is schapen as wel as I
This were a popet in armes to embrace
Line 1891
ffor any womman smal and fair of face
he semeþ eluyssch by his contynaunce
ffor vnto no wight doþ he dalyaunce
Line 1894
Say now somwhat seþins oþer folk han sayd
Telle vs a tale of merþe and þat anon
Oste quod I ne be nought yuel a-payde
ffor oþer tale certes can I non
Line 1898
But of a Ryme I lerned longe agon
Ȝe þat is good quod he schuln we here
Som deynte þing me þinkeþ by his cheere.
Line 1901