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=Bihold the murye wordes of the Host to Chaucer.=
Whan seyd was al this miracle, every man
As sobre was, that wonder was to se,
Til that our hoste Iapen tho bigan,
And than at erst he loked up-on me,
And seyde thus, ‘what man artow?’ quod he; 1885
‘Thou lokest as thou woldest finde an hare,
For ever up-on the ground I see thee stare.
HEADING. _From_ E. E. Bihoold; Hoost. 1883. _Only_ Hl. _inserts_ to
_before_ Iapen. Cm. Cp. tho; E. to; Hn. he; Pt. Ln. Hl. _omit_.
Approche neer, and loke up merily.
Now war yow, sirs, and lat this man have place;
He in the waast is shape as wel as I; 1890
This were a popet in an arm tenbrace (11)
For any womman, smal and fair of face.
He semeth elvish by his contenaunce,
For un-to no wight dooth he daliaunce.
1888. E. murily; Hl. merily.
Sey now somwhat, sin other folk han sayd; 1895
Tel us a tale of mirthe, and that anoon;’—
‘Hoste,’ quod I, ‘ne beth nat yvel apayd,
For other tale certes can I noon,
But of a ryme I lerned longe agoon.’
‘Ye, that is good,’ quod he; ‘now shul we here 1900
Som deyntee thing, me thinketh by his chere.’ (21)
_Explicit._
1897. Cp. Ln. Oste; E. Hn. Cm. Hoost. 1900. E. ye; _rest_ we.
[190: T. 13642-13665.]
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