“But forth to tellen of this worthy man, That taughtë me this tale, as I began, I say that first he with high style inditeth (Ere he the body of his talë writeth) A proem, in the which describeth he Piedmont, and of Saluces 2431 the countrý, And speaketh of the Pennine hillës high, That be the bounds of all West Lombardy: And of Mount Vesulus in special, Where as the Po out of a wellë small Taketh his firstë springing and his source, That eastward aye increaseth in his course T’ Emilia-ward, 2432 to Ferraro, and Veníce, The which a long thing werë to devise. 2433 And truëly, as to my judgëment, Me thinketh it a thing impertinent, 2434 Save that he would conveyë his mattére: But this is the tale, which that ye shall hear.”