* * * * *
=The prologe of the Chanons Yemannes Tale.=
Whan ended was the lyf of seint Cecyle,
Er we had riden fully fyve myle, 555
At Boghton under Blee us gan atake
A man, that clothed was in clothes blake,
And undernethe he hadde a whyt surplys.
His hakeney, that was al pomely grys,
So swatte, that it wonder was to see; 560
It semed he had priked myles three.
The hors eek that his yeman rood upon
So swatte, that unnethe mighte it gon. (10)
Aboute the peytrel stood the foom ful hye,
He was of fome al flekked as a pye. 565
A male tweyfold on his croper lay,
It semed that he caried lyte array.
Al light for somer rood this worthy man,
And in myn herte wondren I bigan
What that he was, til that I understood 570
How that his cloke was sowed to his hood;
For which, when I had longe avysed me,
I demed him som chanon for to be. (20)
His hat heng at his bak doun by a laas,
For he had riden more than trot or paas; 575
[528: T. 16044-16079.]
He had ay priked lyk as he were wood.
A clote-leef he hadde under his hood
For swoot, and for to kepe his heed from hete.
But it was Ioye for to seen him swete!
His forheed dropped as a stillatorie, 580
Were ful of plantain and of paritorie.
And whan that he was come, he gan to crye,
‘God save,’ quod he, ‘this Ioly companye! (30)
Faste have I priked,’ quod he, ‘for your sake,
By-cause that I wolde yow atake, 585
To ryden in this mery companye.’
His yeman eek was ful of curteisye,
And seyde, ‘sires, now in the morwe-tyde
Out of your hostelrye I saugh you ryde,
And warned heer my lord and my soverayn, 590
Which that to ryden with yow is ful fayn,
For his desport; he loveth daliaunce.’
554. E. toold was al; Cm. told was; _rest_ ended was. E. Pt.
seinte. 558. So E.; _rest_ And vnder that he hadde a whit surplys.
559. E. which þat; _rest omit_ which. 561. E. as he; Cm. that he;
_rest_ he. 562. E. hakeney; _rest_ hors. 564. E. _omits_ ll. 564,
565. 566. E. Hn. vpon; _rest_ on. 569. E. to wondren; _rest omit_
to. 574. E. Hn. heeng; Hl. heng; Cm. Cp. hyng. 586. E. som; _rest_
this. 589. E. Hn. sangh; Pt. segh. 591. E. _omits_ that.
‘Freend, for thy warning god yeve thee good chaunce,’
Than seyde our host, ‘for certes, it wolde seme (41)
Thy lord were wys, and so I may wel deme; 595
He is ful Iocund also, dar I leye.
Can he oght telle a mery tale or tweye,
With which he glade may this companye?’