XXIX. BALADE IN PRAISE OF CHAUCER.
Master Geffray Chauser, that now lyth in grave,
The nobyll rethoricien, and poet of Gret Bretayne,
That worthy was the lawrer of poetry have
For thys hys labour, and the palme attayne;
Whych furst made to dystyll and reyne 5
The gold dew-dropys of speche and eloquence
In-to Englyssh tong, thorow hys excellence.
Explicit.
XXIX. From MS. Trin. R. 3. 19, fol. 25; also in Stowe (ed. 1561). 1. MS. Chausers; Stowe, Chauser. 2. Rethoricion (!). 6. elloquence.