GROUP I. FRAGMENT X.
§ 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK. CORPUS MS. Here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe parson
[This is really a link between some unwritten Tale and the Parson's. It has been made into the Manciple-Parson Link (or Yeoman-Parson by the Christ-Church MS) by Chaucer's copiers, though not meant for it.]
on leaf 261
By þat þe maunciple hadde his tale ended [Cam xxiiijm]
The sonne fro þe souþ syde is descended
So lowe þat he was nought to my sight
Degrees xxix as of highte /
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Ten of þe clokke it was so as I gesse /
ffor xj foote a lytel more or lesse
My schadwe was at þilke tyme as þere /
Of suche feet as my lengþe parted were /
Line 8
In six foote equal of proporcion
Ther-wiþ þe mones exaltacion
I mene libra alwey gan ascende
As we were entryng at a thropes ende
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ffor wiþ oure Oste as he was wont to gye
As in þis caas oure ioly companye /
Sayde in þis wise lordynges euerychon
Now lakkeþ vs no tale more þan oon
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ffulfild is my sentence and my degre
Who wile now telle a tale let se
Almost fulfilled is myn ordynaunce
I pray to god so ȝiue him right good chance
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þat telleþ þis tale to vs lustely
Sire prest quod he art þou a vicary
Or art þou a person say soþ by þy fey
Be what þou be ne breke nought oure pley
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