Pars Prima
At Sarra, in the land of Tartary, There dwelt a king that warrayed Russie, Through which there died many a doughty man; This noble king was called Cambuscan, Which in his time was of so great renown, That there was nowhere in no regioún So excellent a lord in allë thing: Him lacked nought that longeth to a king, As of the sect of which that he was born. He kept his law to which he was y-sworn, And thereto he was hardy, wise, and rich, And piteous and just, always y-lich; True of his word, benign and honouráble; Of his coráge as any centre stable; Young, fresh, and strong, in armës desiroús As any bachelor of all his house. A fair persón he was, and fortunate, And kept alway so well his royal estate, That there was nowhere such another man. This noble king, this Tartar Cambuscan, Haddë two sons by Elfeta his wife, Of which the eldest hightë Algarsife, The other was y-callëd Camballó. A daughter had this worthy king also, That youngest was, and hightë Canacé: But for to tellë you all her beautý, It lies not in my tongue, nor my conníng; I dare not undertake so high a thing: Mine English eke is insufficient, It mustë be a rhetor excellent, That couth his colours longing for that art, If he should her describen any part; I am none such, I must speak as I can.
And so befell, that when this Cambuscan Had twenty winters borne his diadem, As he was wont from year to year, I deem, He let the feast of his nativity Do cryë, throughout Sarra his citý, The last Idus of March, after the year. Phoebus the sun full jolly was and clear, For he was nigh his exaltatión In Martë’s face, and in his mansión In Aries, the choleric hot sign: Full lusty was the weather and benign; For which the fowls against the sunnë sheen, What for the season and the youngë green, Full loudë sangë their affectións: Them seemed to have got protectións Against the