GROUP C. FRAGMENT IV.
§ 1. THE DOCTOR'S TALE.
CAMBRIDGE MS.
[and begynneth þe tale [Sloane MS 1685, on leaf 178]
There was as tellith me Titus lyueus.
A knyȝt/ þat clepid was Virgineus
Fulfyllyd of honoures and of worþinesse
And stronge of ffrendes and of grete rychesse [Sloane MS 1685 folio 178b]
A douȝtyr/ he hade by hys wyf/
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And neuere hade he mo in alle hys lyf·
ffayre was þis mayde in excellent beute
A-bouen euery wyȝt/ þat man may see·
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ffor nature haþe with souereyne diligence
ffourmyd hir/ in so grete excellence
As þouȝe she wolde say loo I nature
Thus can I forme and peynt/ a creature
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Whan þat/ me lyst/ who can me counterfet/
Pignalyon nouȝt þouȝe he alwey forge and bete
Or graue or peynte for y dare wele sayne
Apollus ȝepherus shulde worche in vayne
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To graue or peynte or forge or bete
ȝif/ þei presumyd me forto conterfete
ffor he þat ys þe formour principal
Hath made me his Viker/ general
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To forme and peynte eche erthly creature
Ryȝt/ as me lyste for alle thynge ys in my cure
Vnder/ þe mone þat may wane or waxe
And for my werke no þenge wille I axe
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