THE TALE（第2页）

aswisefolkyeknowenallthestate

ofregnes*;yebefathersoftidings，*kingdoms

andtales，bothofpeaceandofdebate*:*contention，war

iwererightnowoftalesdesolate*，*barren，empty.

butthatamerchant，goneinmanyayear，

metaughtatale，whichyeshallafterhear.

insyriawhilomdweltapany

ofchapmenrich，andtheretosad*andtrue，*grave，steadfast

clothesofgold，andsatinsrichofhue.

thatwidewhere*senttheirspicery，*todistantparts

theirchaffare*wassothriftly**andsonew，*wares**advantageous

thateverywighthaddainty*tochaffare***pleasure**deal

withthem，andeketosellethemtheirware.

nowfellit，thatthemastersofthatsort

have*shapenthem*toromefortowend，*determined，prepared*

wereitforchapmanhood*orfordisport，*trading

noneothermessagewouldtheythithersend，

butethemselvestorome，thisistheend:

andinsuchplaceasthoughtthemavantage

fortheirintent，theytooktheirherbergage.**lodging

sojournedhavethesemerchantsinthattown

acertaintimeasfelltotheirpleasance:

andsobefell，thatthexcellentrenown

ofthemperoresdaughter，dameconstance，

reportedwas，witheverycircumstance，

untothesesyrianmerchantsinsuchwise，

fromdaytoday，asishallyoudevise**relate

thiswasthenvoiceofeveryman

"ouremperorofrome，godhimsee*，*lookonwithfavour

adaughterhath，thatsincethetheworldbegan，

toreckonaswellhergoodnessandbeauty，