pleasure in an old farcical piece that would otherwise be left
unread.

Chaucer's "Rime of Sir Thopas" was a playful jest on the long-winded
story-telling of the old romances, and had specially in mind Thomas
Chestre's version of Launfal from Marie of France, and the same
rhymer's romance of "Ly Beaus Disconus," who was Gingelein, a son of
Gawain, called by his mother, for his beauty, only Beaufis (handsome
son); but when he offered himself in that name to be knighted by
King Arthur, he was knighted and named by him Li Beaus Disconus (the
fair unknown). This is the method of the tediousness, in which it
showed itself akin to many a rhyming tale.

"And for love of his fair vis
His mother cleped him Beaufis,
And none other name;
And himselve was full nis,
He ne axed nought y-wis
What he hight at his dame.

"As it befel upon a day,
To wood he went on his play
Of deer to have his game;
He found a knight, where he lay
In armes that were stout and gay,
Y-slain and made full tame.

"That child did off the knightes wede,
And anon he gan him schrede
In that rich armour.