[6-text p 195]
Sir thopas drough on bak ful fast
This geaunt at him stoones cast /
Out of a fell staf slynge
Line 2019
But faire eschapeþ child thopas
And al it was þurgh goddis gras
And þurgh his berynge /
Line 2022
Ȝet lesteneth lordynges to my tale /
Merier þan þe nightyngale /
I wol ȝow roune
Line 2025
how sir thopas wiþ sides smale /
Prikynge ouer hul and dale
Is come ageyn to toune
Line 2028
his mery men comaunded he
To make him boþe game and gle
For needes most he fight
Line 2031
with a geaunt with heedes þre
For paramours and iolite
Of oon þat schon ful bright
Line 2034
Do come he sayde my mynstrales
And gestours for to telle tales
Anoon in myn armynge
Line 2037
Of Romaunces þat ben reales
Of popes and of Cardinales
And eek of loue likynge
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Thay fet him first þe swete wyn
And made him eek in a maselyn
A real spicerye
Line 2043
Of gyngebred þat was so fyn
And licorys and eek comyn
with sugre þat is trye / [folio 205b]
Line 2046
