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APPENDIX III. The Prologue; from the only other MSS. (besides the four principal texts) in which it has yet been found; namely, Laud 416 (Bodleian), Bedford, and Herald's College, Arundel 57.
Laud 416 (Bodleian)
¶ Here begynnyth the boke of storius callid Cursor mundi /
[folio 66a:1] Men lykyn Iestis for to here
And romans rede in diuers manere
Of Alexandre þe conqueroure.
Of Iulius Cesar the emperoure
Of Grece and troy the strong stryf
Line 5
There many a man lost his lyf
Of Brute that baron bold of hond
The first conqueroure of Englond
Line 8
Of kyng artour that was so riche
Was non in his tyme so lyche
Of wondirs that among his knyghtis felle /
And auntirs dedyn as men here telle
As Gaweyn kay & othir full abyll
Which that kept the round tabyll
how kyng charlis & rowlond fawght
With sarzyns nold they be cawght
Line 16
Of Trystrem & of ysoude þe swete
how they with love first gan mete
Of kyng Iohn & of Isombras
Of ydoyne & of Amadas
Line 20
Stories of diuerce thynggis
Of pryncis prelatis & of kynggis
Many songgis of diuers ryme
As English frensh & latyne
Line 24
To rede & here many is prest
Of thynggis that hem lykyþ best
