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=The prologe of the Frankeleyns Tale.=
[_This_ Prologue _follows immediately after the_ Words _on_ p. 481.]
Thise olde gentil Britons in hir dayes
Of diverse aventures maden layes, 710
Rymeyed in hir firste Briton tonge;
Which layes with hir instruments they songe, (40)
Or elles redden hem for hir plesaunce;
And oon of hem have I in remembraunce,
Which I shal seyn with good wil as I can. 715
HEADING. _So_ E.; Ln. Incipit prologus de le Frankeleyne; Hn. Pt. Here
bigynneth the Frankeleyns tale. Hl. _omits_ ll. 709-1223. 712. E.
whiche.
But, sires, by-cause I am a burel man,
At my biginning first I yow biseche
Have me excused of my rude speche;
I lerned never rethoryk certeyn;
Thing that I speke, it moot be bare and pleyn. 720
I sleep never on the mount of Pernaso,
Ne lerned Marcus Tullius Cithero. (50)
Colours ne knowe I none, with-outen drede,
But swiche colours as growen in the mede,
Or elles swiche as men dye or peynte. 725
Colours of rethoryk ben me to queynte;
My spirit feleth noght of swich matere.
But if yow list, my tale shul ye here.
722. E. Hn. Scithero. 726. Cp. Ln. ben me to; Pt. bene to me; Hn.
they ben to; E. been to.
[483: T. 11041-11068.]
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