And with this worde he right anone Yhent me up bytwene his tone, And at a windowe in me brought That in this House was, as me thought, And therewithal me thought it stent, 940 955 Or els he tolde it opinly, Right thus, and faid, Ne woft nat thou That is betiddin, lo! right nowe? No, certis, (quod he;) tel me what; And than he tolde him this and that, And swore therto that it was fothe, Thus hath he faid, and thus he dothe, And this fhal be', and thus herde I fay, That fhal be founde, that dare I lay; 960 That al the folke that is on lyve The fame tale that to him was tolde 965 970 975 And that encrefinge evirmo, As fire is wont to quicken and go, From a sparcle fprongin amis, Tyl al a cite brent up is. And whan that that was ful up fpronge, And waxin more on every tonge 990 1050 For al mote out or late or rathe I herdin a grete noise withall 1055 As faste as that they haddin might, And everyche cride, What thinge is that? And fome faid, I n'ot nevir what: Whiche that I nought difcrive ne can, But he yfemid for to be A man of grete auctorite, And therewithal I 'anon abraide 1060 Ιεός 1070 1075 Wherfore to study' and rede alway I purpose to do day by day. And thus in dreminge and in game Endith this litil Boke of Fame. 1080 Here endeth The Boke of Fame. CERTAINE BALADES, &c. Here foloweth a godely balade of Chaucer. MOTUIR of norture, beft beloved of all, And freshè floure, to whom gode thrift God fende, All be' l' unable my self so to pretende, Mine herte and all, with every circumftaunce, Is wholly to be' undir your govirnaunce. Meulx'un in herte, whiche nevir fhall apall, 14 21 |