From Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales", The Tale of Sir Thopas, lines 143-166

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From The Tale of Sir Thopas, lines 107-142:
Sir Thopas meets Sir Oliphant who blocks the way to fairyland

From The Canterbury Tales:
The Tale of Sir Thopas
lines 143-166: Sir Thopas goes home to prepare for the fight

The Second Fit

	Yet listeth, lordes, to my tale,
	Murier than the nightyngale,
145	For now I wol yow rowne
	How Sir Thopas, with sydes smale,
	Prikyng over hill and dale
	Is comen agayn to towne.

	And listen yet, lords, to my tale,
	Merrier than the nightingale,
145	Whispered to all and some,
	How Sir Thopas, with pride grown pale,
	Hard spurring over hill and dale,
	Came back to his own home.

       His murie men comanded he

150 To make hym bothe game and glee,

       For nedes moste he fighte

With a geaunt with hevedes three,

For paramour and jolitee

       Of oon that shoon ful brighte.

       His merry men commanded he

150 To make for him both game and glee,

       For needs now must he fight

With a great giant of heads three,

For love in the society

       Of one who shone full bright.

155        "Do come,: he seyde, "my mynstrales,

And geestours, for to tellen tales

       Anon in myn armynge;

Of romances that been roiales,

Of Popes and of Cardinales,

160        And eek of love-likynge."

155        "Do come," he said, "my minstrels all,

And jesters, tell me tales in hall

       Anon in mine arming;

Of old romances right royal,

Of pope and king and cardinal,

160        And also of love-liking."

       They fette hym first the sweete wyn,

And mede eek in a mazelyn,

       And roial spicerye,

And gyngebreed that was ful fyn,

165 And lycorys, and eek comyn,

       With sugre that is so trye.

       They brought him, first, the sweet, sweet wine,

And mead within a maselyn,

       And royal spicery

Of gingerbread that was full fine,

165 Cumin and licorice, I opine,

       And sugar so dainty.

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From The Tale of Sir Thopas, lines 167-200:
The clothes and equipment of Sir Thopas