Page:The Canterbury tales of Geoffrey Chaucer.djvu/209

 presents be fetched full royally, the mirror and sword, and borne anon by certain officers appointed thereto into the high tower; and unto Canacee, where she sitteth at the table, this ring is borne with ceremony. But in very sooth, the horse of brass may not be removed; it standeth as it were glued to the ground. No man may pull it out of the place, with any engine of windlass or pulley, and with good reason, for they know not the art. Therefore they have left it in the place till the knight hath taught them how to move it forth, as ye shall hear afterward. Great was the press that to and fro swarmeth to gape on this horse where it standeth ; for it was as high and as broad and long, and as well proportioned for strength, as if it were truly a steed of Lombardy; therewith it was as horsely and quick of eye, as if it were a noble Apulian courser. For certes, from his tail to his ear, not nature nor art could amend him in any degree, as all the people weened. But evermore they wondered most how it could go and was of brass. It was of Faërie, thought the people. Diverse folk deemed diversely. As many heads so many wits. They murmured like a swarm of bees, and made explanations according to their fancies, and said—rehearsing these old poetic fables—it was like the Pegasus, the horse that had wings to fly ; or else it was the horse of Synon, the Greek, that brought destruction to Troy, as men may read in these old romances. "Mine heart," quoth one, "is aye afeard; I trow some men of arms be therein, that plan to capture this city. It were good that such things were known." Another whispered low to his neighbour and said : "He lieth ; it is rather like an apparition made by some magic such as jugglers sport with at great feasts." Thus they talk and babble of sundry doubts, as unlearned people commonly deem of things that be made more subtly than they