servíce, And been a feastly man, as fresh as May, That shouldë you devisë such array. Who couldë tellë you the form of dances So úncouth, and so freshë countenances, Such subtle lookings and dissimulances, For dread of jealous men’s appérceivíngs? No man but Launcelot, and he is dead. Therefore I pass o’er all this lustihead; I say no more, but in this jolliness I leave them, till to supper men them dress. The steward bids the spices for to hie And eke the wine, in all this melodý; The ushers and the squiërs be y-gone, The spices and the wine is come anon; They eat and drink, and when this hath an end, Unto the temple, as reason was, they wend; The service done, they suppen all by day. What needeth you rehearsë their array? Each man wot well, that at a kingë’s feast Is plenty, to the most and to the least, And dainties more than be in my knowíng.
At after supper went this noble king To see the horse of brass, with all a rout Of lordës and of ladies him about. Such wond’ring was there on this horse of brass, That, since the greatë siege of Troyë was, There as men wonder’d on a horse also, Ne’er was there such a wond’ring as was tho. But finally the king asked the knight The virtue of this courser, and the might, And prayed him to tell his governance. The horse anon began to trip and dance, When that the knight laid hand upon his rein, And saidë, “Sir, there is no more to sayn, But when you list to riden anywhere, Ye mustë trill a pin, stands in his ear, Which I shall tellë you betwixt us two; Ye mustë name him to what place also, Or to what country that you list to ride. And when ye comë where you list abide, Bid him descend, and trill another pin (For therein lies th’ effect of all the gin ), And he will down descend and do your will, And in that place he will abidë still; Though all the world had the contráry swore, He shall not thence be throwen nor be bore. Or, if you list to bid him thennës gon, Trill this pin, and he will vanísh anon Out of the sight of every manner wight, And come again, be it by day or night, When that you list to clepë him again In such a guise, as I shall to you sayn Betwixtë you and me, and that full soon. Ride when you list, there is no more to do’n.”