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[6-text p 134]
[The Tale]
IN Surrie dwelled whilom a companye [on] [folio 72b]
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Of Chapmen riche and þerto sad and trewe
That wyde where sent her spycere
Cloþes of gold and satyn rich of hewe /
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her chaffar was so þrifty and so newe
That euery wight had deynte to chaffare
wiþ hem and eek to selle hem of here ware /
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Now fel it þat þe maystres of þat sort
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han schapen hem to Rome for to wende
were it for chapmanhode or for disport
Non oþer message nolde þey þider sende /
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But came hemself to Rome þis is þe ende
And in such place / as þought hem auanntage
For here entent þey tooke her herburgage
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Soiourned naue þese marchauntȝ in þe toun
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A certeyn tyme as fel to here plesaunce
But so bifell þat þexcellent renoun
Of þemperoures doughter dame Custaunce
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Reported was with euery circumstaunce
vnto þese surrienȝ marchauntȝ in such wyse [folio 73a]
Fro day to day as I schal ȝou deuyse /
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This was þe comyn voys of euery man
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Oure emperour of Rome god him see
A doughter haþ þat siþ þe world bygan
To Rekne as wel hir goodnes as hir bewte /
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Nas neuer such anoþer as was sche
I prey to god hir saue and susteene
And wolde sche were of al Europe þe queene
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