GROUP A. FRAGMENT I.
§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE. LANSDOWNE MS. 851. Incipit prologus fabularum Cantuariensium.
[Note: after very many final c, e, f, g, k, r, s, t, there is a stroke or a tag. The number is so great, sometimes 6 or 7 in 1 line, that I am obliged to disregard all.]
[folio 2a]
WHan þat Aprille wyþe his schoures soote.
þe drought of Marche haþe perced to þe roote.
And baþes euery veyne in suche lycoure.
Of whiche vertue engender is þe floure.
Line 4
Whan ȝephirus eke with his swete breþe.
Inspired haþe in euery holte and hethe.
The tendre croppes and þe ȝonge sonne.
Haþe in þe Ramme his half cours ronne.
Line 8
And Smal foules maken melodye.
þat slepen al nyht wiþ open. yhe.
So prikkeþ hem nature in her corages.
Than longen folke to gone one pilgrimages.
Line 12
And palmeres for to seeke straungere strondes.
To ferne halowes cowþe in sundre londes.
And specialy from euery schyres ende.
Of Ingelonde to Canterburi þei wende
Line 16
The holy blisful Martir for to seke
That hem haþ holpen whan þei were seke
It be-fel þan in þat sesone vpon a daie
In Suthewerke att þe tabard as .I. laie
Line 20
Redi to wende on my pilgremage.
To Canterburie wiþ ful deuoute Corage.
At nyhte was come in-to þat hostelleric
Wel Nyne and twente on a companye
Line 24
Of sondre folke be auenture yfalle
In felauschipe and Pilgrimes were þei alle
To-warde Canterburi þat wolde ride
