Before the herber where I was sitting,

And, God wot, me thought I was wel bigone,

For than I might avise hem one by one,

Who fairest was, who coud best dance and sing,

Or who most womanly was in all thing.

They had not daunced but a little throw,

When that I hearde ferre off sodainly,

So great a noise of thundering trumpes blow,

As though it should have departed the skie;

And after that within a while I sie