GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.
§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.
HARLEIAN MS. 7334 (British Museum).
¶ And here bygynneth þe tale of þe Doctor of of phisik
Ther was as telleþ Thitus lyuius
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A knight þat cleped was virginieus
Fulfild of honours and of worþines
And strong of frendes and of gret riches
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A doughter he hadde by his wyf
And neuer ne hadde he mo in al his lyf
Fair was þis mayde in excellent beaute
Aboue euery wight that men may se
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For nature haþ wiþ souereyn diligence
I-formed hir in so gret excellence
As þough sche wolde say lo I nature
þus can I forme and peynte a creature
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whan þat/ me lust who can me counterfete
Pigmalion nouȝt þough he alwey forge and bete /
Or graue or peynte for I dar wel sayn
appollus ȝepherus schulde wirche in vayn
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To graue or paynte or forge & bete
If þay presumed me to counterfete
For he þat is þe former principal
haþ maad me his viker general
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To forme and peynte erþely creature
Right as me lust al þing is in my cure
Vnder þe moone þat may wane and waxe
And for my werke noþing wol I axe
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