[THE TALE.]
[PART I.]
In Surry whilom dwellede a c[u]mpaignye [Cambridge MS] [folio 196a]
Of chapmen riche & þerto sadde & trewe
That wide where sentyn here spicerye
Clothis of gold & satynys ryche of hewe
Line 137
Here chaffare was so thrifty & so newe
That euery wight hath deynte to chaffare
With hem & ek to sellen hem here ware
Line 140
Now fil it that þe maysteris of þat sort
Han shapyn hem to rome for to wende
Were it for chapmanhod or for disport
Non oþer message wolde he dedyr sende
Line 144
But comyn hem self to rome þis is thende
And in swich place as thoghte hem thawauntage
ffor hire entent þey take hire herbergage
Line 147
Soiournyd han þese marchauntis in þat toun
A serteyn tyme as fel to here plesaunce
But so be-fel þat thexselent renoun
Of themperourys doghter dame Custaunce
Line 151
Reportid was with euery circumstance
Vn-to thys surryne marchantys in swich wise
ffrom day to day as I schal ȝow deuyse
Line 154
This was the comune voys of euery man
Oure emperoure of rome god hym se
A doughtir hath þat syn þe world be-gan
To rekene as wel here goodnes as here beute
Line 158
Was neuere swich a-noþer as is sche
I preye to god in honour here sustene
And wolde sche were of al Europe þe quene
Line 161
