Stood not fer thens in habit mervelous;
1270
'Yon is,' thought [I], 'som spirit or some elf,
His sotill image is so curious:
How is,' quod I, 'that he is shaded thus
With yonder cloth, I not of what colour?'
And nere I went, and gan to lere and pore,
1275
And frayned him [a] question full hard.
'What is,' quod I, 'the thing thou lovest best?