GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.
§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.
CORPUS MS.
¶ The doctour of phisik [on leaf 190, back]
THer was as telleþ vs Titus lyueus
A knight þat cleped was virgineus
ffulfilled of honoures and worþinesse
And strong of frendes and of gret richesse
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A doughter he hadde by his wyf
And neuere hadde he mo in alle his lyf
ffair was þis mayde in excellent beaute
Abouen euery wight þat man may se
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ffor nature haþ with souerein diligence
fformed hire in so gret excellence
As þough sche wolde say lo I nature
Thus can I forme and peinte a creature
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Whan þat me list who can me countrefete [folio 191a]
Pigmalion nouȝt þough he alwey forge and bete
Or graue or peynte for I dar wel sayn
Apollus ȝephirus schulde worche in vayn
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To graue or paynte or forge or bete
ȝif þey presumede me for to countirfete
ffor he þat is þe formour principal
haþ maad me his viker general
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To forme and peynte ech erþely creature
Right as me lyst for al þing is in my cure
vnder þe moone þat may wane and waxe
And for my werke no þing wol I axe
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