“These oldë gentle Bretons, in their days, Of divers áventúrës madë lays, 3215 Rhymeden in their firstë Breton tongue; Which layës with their instruments they sung, Or ellës readë them for their pleasánce; And one of them have I in remembránce, Which I shall say with good will as I can. But, Sirs, because I am a borel 3216 man, At my beginning first I you beseech Have me excused of my rudë speech. I learned never rhetoric, certáin; Thing that I speak, it must be bare and plain. I slept never on the mount of Parnassó, Nor learned Marcus Tullius Cicero. Coloúrës know I none, withoutë dread, 3217 But such coloúrs as growen in the mead, Or ellës such as men dye with or paint; Coloúrs of rhetoric be to me quaint; 3218 My spirit feeleth not of such mattére. But, if you list, my talë shall ye hear.”