GROUP I. FRAGMENT X.
§ 1. THE BLANK-PARSON LINK.
¶ And here begynneth the prologe of þe Persouns tale
By þat þe maunciple had had his tale endid
The sonne fro þe south line is descendid
So lowe þat it nas nouȝt to my sight
Degrees [nyne and twenty as in hight [[In a later hand.]] ]
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Ten on þe Clokke it was as I gesse /
For enleuen foote or litil more or lesse /
My schadow was at þilk tyme of þe ȝere
Of which feet as my lengþe parted were /
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In [sixe [[In a later hand.]] ] feet equal of proporcioun
Ther-with þe mones exaltacioun
In mena libra alway gan ascende
As we were entryng at a townes ende
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For which our host as he was wont to gye
As in þis caas our ioly compaignye
Sayd in þis wise lordings euerich oon
Now lakkeþ vs no moo tales þan oon
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Fulfilled is my sentens and my decre
I trowe þat we han herd of ech degre
Almost fulfilled is myn ordynaunce
I pray to god so ȝeue him right good chaunce
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That tellith to vs his tale lustily
Sire prest quod he artow a vicory [folio 251b]
Or artow a persoun say soþ by þy fay
Be what þou be breke nought oure play
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