GROUP A. FRAGMENT I.
§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE.
CAMBRIDGE MS. Dd. 4. 24 (copied by Wytton), Completed by Egerton MS. 2726 (the Haistwell MS.) from which are Lines 1-252, 505-758, 920-1170, 1502-1931, 2927-3016, etc. Its tags to final d, f, g and k are not printed.
WHan that Aprill with his shoures soote [Eg. 2726 folio 1a]
The draught of Marche hath pershed þe roote
And bathed euery veyn in swhiche licour
Of soche vertue engendred is þe floure
Line 4
And ȝepherus eke with his swete breth
Enspired hath in euery holt and heth
The tendre croppes and the yonge son
Hath in the Ram half his cours ron
Line 8
And smale foules make melody
That slepe all night with open Ie
So prekketh hem nature in hir corage
Than longeth yt folk to go on pilgremage
Line 12
And Palmers for to seche straunge strondes
To ferne halowes couthe in sondry londes
And specially from euery shires ende
Of Engelond to Caunterbury þei wende
Line 16
The holy blisful martir for to seke
That hem hath holp when they were seke
So byfyll yt þat seson on a day
In southwerk at þe Tabard as I lay
Line 20
Redy to wende on my pilgremage
To Caunterbury with full deuou[t] [MS. rubd] corage
That night was com[e] [MS. rubd] in to our hostry
Wele xxix in a cumpany
Line 24
Of diuers folk by auenture yfall
In felyshipe and pilgrymes were they all
And toward Caunterbury wold þei ryde
