[6-text p 195]
¶ Sire Thopas / drow abak ful faste
This geant at hym stones caste
Out of a fel staf slynge
Line 2019
¶ But faire escapeth sire Thopas
And al it was thurgh goddes gras
And thurgh his fair berynge
Line 2022
Yet listeth / lordes / to my tale [folio 156b]
Murier than the Nightyngale
I wol yow rowne
Line 2025
How sir Thopas / with sydes smale
Prikyng ouer hill and dale
Is comen agayn to towne
Line 2028
¶ His murie men / comanded he
To make hym / bothe game and glee
ffor nedes / moste he fighte
Line 2031
With a geaunt with heuedes three
ffor paramour and Iolitee
Of oon / that shoon ful brighte
Line 2034
¶ Do come he seyde / my Mynstrales
And geestours / for to tellen tales
Anon in myn Armynge
Line 2037
Of Romances / that been Roiales
Of Popes / and of Cardinales
And eek of loue likynge
Line 2040
¶ They sette hym first sweete wyn
And Mede eek in a Mazelyn
And Roial spicerye
Line 2043
And Gyngebreed / þat was ful fyn
And lycorys and eek Comyn
With sugre þat is so trye
Line 2046
