Sl2 · London, British Library Sloane MS 1686
Canterbury Tales Project.
talesofcanterbury.org/GP/xml/transcripts/Sl2/
[2r]
In lystes thries and aye slayne his foo
This ilke worthy knyght had be also
Somtyme with the lord of Palatye
Ayen an othre hethen in Turkye
And eủeremore he had a souereyne prys
And though that he was worthy he was wys
Of his port as meke as is a maide
And nev̉er yit no velanye saide
In all his lyf onto nomaner wight
He was a verrey parfyght gentil knyght
For to y tellen you of his arraye
His hors were good but he was nat gaye
Of Fustian he wered Agepoıı̄un
All be smoterid with his haburgeoıı̄un
For he was late come from his viage
And went for to don his pilgrimage
With hym there was his sone a yong squyer
A louyer and a lusty bacheler
With lokkes crulle as they were leide on presse
Of . xx . yere of age he was I gesse
Of his stature he was of euyn lenght
And wonderlye delyuere and gret of strenght
And he had be somtyme in chyuachy
In Flaundres in Artoys and in Picardye
And born hym wele as of so litle space
In hope to stonden in his ladys grace
Embroided was he as it were a mede
All full of fresshe floures white and rede
Synging he was or floytyng alle the daye
He was as fressh as in the monethe of maye
Short was his gowne his sleuys long ⁊and wide
Wele coude he sitte on a hors and faire ride
He coude wele songes make and wele endyte
Iuste and eke daunce and wele portray and write
So hote he loued that be nyghter tale
He slepith namore than dothe a Nityngale
Curteys he was lowlye and seruisable
And carf beforn his fadre at the table
A yoman had he and seruauntes nomo
Atte that tyme for him liste to ride so
And he was clad in Cote and hode of grene
A . shef of Arwes bright and kene
Vndre his belt he bare full thriftelye
Wele coud he dresse his takill yomanlye
His arwes drowped not with federys lowe
And in his hande he bare a myghty bowe
A Nothed had he wᵗith a browne visage
Of woodcraft wele cowde he alle the vsage
Vpon his Arme he bar a gay braser
And be his side a swerde and a bokeler
And on that othre side agay daggere
Harneysed wele as sharpe as poynt of spere
A Cristofere on his brest as siluer shene
And horne he bare the bawdryk was of grene
A Foster was he sothely as I gesse
There was also a Nonne a Prioresse
That of hir smyling was ful symple ⁊and coye
Here grettest oth was but be seynt Loye
And she was called madame Eglentyne
Ful wele she song the seruice diuine
Entuned in hir Nose full semely
And frenche she spak ful fayre and fetysly
After the scole at Stradford of the bowe
For frensh of Parys was to here vnknowe
At mete wele I taught was she wᵗith alle
She lete no morsel from hir lippes falle
Ne wete hir fyngers in here sawce depe
Wele cowde she carye a morsel ⁊and wele kepe
That no drope ne fil nat on hir brest
In curtesye was set full mochel hir lest
Hir over lippe wiped she so clene
That in hir cuppe was there no ferthyng sene
Of Grece whan she had dronken hir draught
Ful semely aftir hir mete she raught
And sikerly she was of gret disport
And ful plesaunt and amiable of port
And peyned hir to cownterfete chere
Of cowrte and to be estatlich of manere
And to be holden digne of reuerence
But for to speken of hir conscience
She was so charitable and so pitous
She wolde wepe yf she sawe a Mows
Caught in a trappe ⁊and it were ded and bledde
Of smale houndes had she that she fedde
With rosted flessh and milke or wastelbred
But sore wepte she yf oon of hem were ded
Or yf men smote it with a yerde smerte
And alle was conscience and tendir herte
Ful semelyche hir wympyll pynched was
Hir nose was streyght hir eyen as grey as glas
Hir mouthe ful smal and therto softe ⁊and rede
But sikirlye she had a fayre forhede
It was almost a span brode I trowe
For hardely she was vnder growe
Ful fetys was hir cloke as I was ware
Of smal corall abowte hir harme she bare
A peyre of bedys gawdeed all wᵗith grene
And theron heng a broche of golde full shene
On which ther was crowned wᵗith a crowned . A .
And after amor vincit omnia .
Another Nonne with hir had she
That was hir Chapeleyn and prestis thre
A Monke there was a fayre man for the maistrye
And owte ridere that loved wele venerye
A manly man to be Abbot able
Full many a deynte hors had he in stable
And whan he rode men myght his bridel here
Gyngelyng in a whistelyng wynde as clere
And eke as lowde as dothe the Chapelle belle
Ther as this lord was keper of the selle
The rule of seynt Maure and of seynt benet
By cause that it was olde ⁊and somdel streyte
This ilke monke lete olde thynges pace
And hilde after the newe worldis space
He yaf not of the text a pulled henne
That seithe that hunters ben not holy menne
Ne that a Monke whan he is recheles
Is likned to a fisshe that is waterles
This is to saye a monke wᵗith oute his cloister
But thilke text . helde he not worth an oystre .
And I. said his opinioıı̄un was good
What sholde he studye and make hymsilf wood
Vpon̄ a booke in a Cloyster alwey to pore
Or swynke wᵗith his hondes or laboure
As bit Austyn̄ how shall the world be serued
Lat Austyn̄ have his swynke to hym reserued
Therfor he was a pⁱricasoure a right
Grehoundes he had as swift as foule in flight
Of prikyng and huntyng for the hare
Was all his lust for no cost wold he spare
I. seye his sleuys purfiled at the honde
Wᵗith grys and that the fynest of a londe
And for to festen his hoode vnder the chynne
He had of gold wrought a ful corious pynne
A love knotte in the gretter ende there was
His hede was ballid that shoon̄ as any glas
And eke his face as it had be anoynt
A lord was he ful fatte and in good poynt
His eyen stepe and rollyng in his hede
That stemed as a forneys of a lede
His bootes sowple his hors in gret astat
Nowe certanlye he was afaire prelat
He nas not pale as a for pyned gost
A fat swan̄ loved he best of any rost
His Palfray was as brown̄ as berie
A Frere ther was a wantoıı̄un ⁊and a mery
A lymytoᵘur a full solempne man
In alle the ordres fowre is non that can
So michil of daliaunce and faire langage
He had mad full many a mariage
Of yong women of his owne coste
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Vnto his orded ordre he was a noble poste
See above.
Full wele beloued and familier was he
With Frankeleyns oủere all in his contre
And with worthy wommen of the town̄
For he had power of confessioıı̄un
And seide hym self more than a Curat
For his ordre he was licenciat
Full swetlye herd he confessioıı̄un
And plesaunt was his absolucioıı̄un
He was an esye man to yeve penaunce
There as he wist to have a good pitaunce
For vnto a pore ordre for to yeve
Is signe that a man is wele I shreve
For yf he yaf he durst make avaunt
He wist that a man̄ was repentaunt
For many a man̄ so hard is of his hert
He may not wepe all though he sore smerte
Therfor in stede of wepyng and praiers
Men mote yeve silủere vnto the pore Frerys
His typett was ay farsed full of knyfes
And pynnes for to yeve fayre wyfes
And certanlye he had a mery note
Wele coude he singen and pleyn vn a rote
Of ȝeddyng he bare wittirly the pris
His necke white was as the floure delice
Therto he was strong as a champioıı̄un
He knewe the taverns wele in euery town
And euerich hostiler and tapster
Bet than a lazer or a bexter
For vnto soche aworthy man as he
Accorded not as by his faculte
To have wᵗith soche lazeres a queyntaunce
It is not honest it may not avaunce
For to delen with soche porayle
But alle with riche and sellers of vitayle
And ouer alle there as profyte shulde aryse
Curteyse he was and lowlye of seruyse
There was noman̄ nowhere so vertuous
He was the beste begger in his hous
For though a widewe had not a shoo
So plesaunt was his Inprincipio
Yit wolde he have a ferthyng or he went
His purchase was wele better than his rent
And rage he couthe as it were a whelpe
In love daies there cowde he moche helpe
For there he was not liche a cloisterer
With a thred bare cope as a pore scoleer
But he was like a mayster or a pope
Of dowble worsted was his semy cope
That rong as a belle owte of the presse
Somwhat he lipsed for his wantounesse
To make his englissh swete vpon̄ his tonge
And in his harpyng whan̄ that he had songe
His eyen̄ twynkeled in his hede a right
As Don̄ the sterrys in the frosty night
This worthy lymitoᵘur was cleped hoberd
A marchaunt there was wᵗith a forked hede berde
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In motle and high on hors he sat
Vpon̄ his hede a Flaundres bever hat
His bootys clapsid faire and fetyslye
His reasoıı̄uns he spake full solemlye
Shewyng alweye the encres of his wynnyng
He wold the See were kept for any thyng
Bitwix Mydilbourgh and orewelle
Wele cowde he in eschaunges
See above.
shildes selle This worthy man full wele his woordys be sette
There wist no wight that he was in dette
So estatlye was he of his goủernaunce
With his bargeyns and wᵗith his cheueshaunce
He forsothe a worthy man was wᵗith all
But sothely to seyne I not how men hym call
A Clerke there was of Oxenford also
That on to Logyk had longe I goo
As lene was his hors as is a rake
And he was right fat I vndertake
But loked holugh and therto soberlye
Full thredbare was his overest Cowrtepye
For he had getyn hym no benefice
Ne was so wond wordly to have office
For hym was leuer have at his bedhed
Twenty bookes clad in white and red
Of Aristotle and of his philozophie
Than robes riche and Fedyl or sawtrye
But all by that he was A Philisofre
Yet had he ful litle golde in cofre
But all that he myght of his frendis hente
On bookes and on lernyng he it spente
And besily can for the sowles praye
Of hem that wherwhith yaf hym to scoleye
Of stody toke he most cure ⁊and moste hede
Not awoord spake he more than was nede
And that was seid in forme and reuerence
And short and quyk and full of sentence
Sownyng in morall vertu was his speche
And gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche
A sergeaunt of the lawe ware and wise
That often had be at Parvise
That was also full riche in excellence
Discrete he was and of gret reuerence
He semyd swich his wurdes weren so wise
Iustice he was full often in assise
By patent and be clene cōmmissioıı̄un
For his science and for his high renoıı̄un
Of fees and robes had he manye on̄
So gret a purchasoᵘur was nowhere non̄
All was Fee simple to hym in effect
His purchasyng might not be infecte
No where so besy a man as he there nas
And yit he semyd besyer than he was
In termes had he caas and domes alle
That fro the tyme of kyng william were falle
Therto he cowde endite and make a thyng
There coude no wight pynche at his writyng
And every statute cowde he pleyn̄ by rote
He rood but homly in a meede Coote
Gert with a seynt of silke wᵗith barres smale
Of his arraye telle I no lenger tale
A Frankeleyn̄ was in his companye
White was his beerd as the daysie
Of his complexcioıı̄un he was sangweyn̄
Wele loved he by the morow a soppe in wyn̄
To leuen in delite was euer his wone
For he was Epymoners owne sone
That helde opynioıı̄un that pleyne delite
Was verrey felicite parfight
An howsholdere and that a gret was he
Seynt Iulyan̄ was he in his contre
His bred his Ale was alweys after oon̄
A better envyned man was neuer non̄
Wᵗithowte bake mete was nevir his hows
Of fissh of flessh and that so plentevous
It sw
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snewid in his howse of mete and drinke Of alle deyntees that men cowde thynke
After the sondry seasons of the yere
So chaunged he his mete and his sopere
Ful many a fatt Pertrich had he in mewe
And many a Breme and many a luce in stewe
Woo was his Cooke but his sawce were
Poynaunt and sharpe and redy all his gere
His table dormaunt in his
laye
halle laye Here, apart from striking the word, the scribe marked the expunction with both underdot and overdot marks
Stood redy coverd alle the long daye
At sessions there was he lord and sire
Ful ofte tyme he was knyght of the shyre
And Anelas and a gipser alle of silke
Heng at his girdill as white as morn̄ mylke
A. shreve had he be and a comptoure
Was nowhere soche a worthy vauysoure
And Haburdassher and a carpenter
A webber a dyer and a tapster
And theye were clothed in on̄ lyuere
Of a solempne and a gret fraternyte
Ful fressh and newe hir gere all piked was
Here knyfes were chaped all not wᵗith bras
But alle wᵗith siluer wrough full clene ⁊and wele
Hir girdeles and hir powches euery dele
Well semed ech of hem a faire burgeis
To sittyn in a yeldehalle on a deys
Everich for the wisdom̄ that he can
Was shapply for to be an Alderman
For catell had theye I nowe and rent
And eke hir wifes wolde wele it assent
And elles certayne they were to blame
It is full fayre to be clepyd Madame
An goon to vigilies alle to fore
And have a mantell riallich I bore
A Cooke they had wᵗith them for the nones
To boyle the chekenes wᵗith the mary bones
And powder marchaunt and tart ganyngale
Wele koude he knowe a draught of London Ale
He cowde roste and sethe ⁊and boyle and frye
Make mortreux and wele bake a pye
But gret harme was it as it thought me
That on his shene a mormall had he
For blanke manger that made he wᵗith the beste
A shipman was there wonnyng fer by weste
For ought I wot he was of Dertmowthe
He rode vpon̄ a rownsy as he cowthe
In a gowne faldyng to the knee
A dagger hangyng by a lace had hee
A bowte his nekke vndir his arme a downe
The hoot somere had made the hewe all browne
And certaynly he was a verrey good felawe
Full many a draught of wyne had he I drawe
Fro Burdeux ward whill the chapmen slepe
Of nyce conscience tooke he no kepe
If that he faught and had the hier hande
Be water he sent home to euery londe
But of his crafte to rekken̄ wele his tithes
His stremys ⁊and his daungers hym besides
His herberwe ⁊and his moone ⁊and his ledmannage
There was non soche frōm hulle to Cartage
Hardy he was and wyse I vndirtake
Wᵗith many a tempest had his berde be shake
He knewe alle the havenes as they were
From Got londe to the Cape of Defynystre
And euerye creyke in Brytayne ⁊and in spayne
His barge was I clepyd the Magdeleyn
With vs ther was a Doctor of Phisyk
And wympled wele and on his hirhed an hat
As brood as is a bokeler or a targe
A foote mantell abowte hir hepes large
And on hir feete a peire of sporys sharpe
In felasship̄ wele cowde she lawgh ⁊and carpe
Of remedies of loves she knewe ꝑparchuᵘnce
For she cowde of that art the colde dauᵘnce
A · good man was there of religioıı̄un
And was a pore Persoıı̄un of a town̄
But riche he was of holy thought ⁊and wyrke
He was also a lerned man and a clerke
That cristis gospel truly wolde preche
His parisshons devoutly wolde he teche
Benigne he was and wonder diligent
And in aduersite full pacient
And swich he was previd often sithes
Full lothe were he to cursen for his tithes
But rather wold he yeve hym owte of dowte
Vnto his pore parisshons abowte
Of his offryng and of his substaunce
He coude in litle thyng have suffisaunce
Wyde was his parysshe ⁊and howsys fer a sonder
But he ne laf not for reyne nor thunder
In siknesse nor in myschef to vesite
The ferrest in his parisshe most or lyte
Vpon his feet and in his hand a staf
This noble ensample to his shepe he yaf
That furst he wraught ⁊and afterward he taught
Oute of the gospel he tho wurdes caught
And this figure he added eke therto
That yf gold ruste what shall yren do
For yf a preste be fowle on whom we truste
No wondre is a lewde man to ruste
¶ And shame it is yf a preste take kepe
A sheten shepperd and a clene shepe
Wele ought a preste ensample for to yeve
By his clennesse how that his shepe shold leve
He set nought his benefyce to here
And lete his shepe accombred in myre
And ran to London to seint powles
To seke hym a Chauntery for sowles
Or wᵗith a bretherhede to be wᵗith holde
But dwelle at hom̄ and kepe wele his folde
So that the wolf ne made it not myscarye
He was a · shepperd and nat a mercenarye
And thouh he were holy and vertuous
He was nat to sinfull men dispitous
Ne of his speche daungerous and digne
But in his techyng discrete and benigne
To drawen̄ folke to heven by fairenesse
By good ensample this was his besynesse
But it were any persoıı̄un obstinat
What so he were of lowe or hih estat
Hym wolde he snybbe sharpely for the nones
A. bettir preste I trowe nowhere is
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non̄ is He wayted after no pompe and reuerence
Ne made hym a spiced conscience
But cristꝭes lore and his apostles twelue
He taught but furst he folowid it hym selue
With hym there was a plowmān þᵗat was his brothre
That he had lad of donge ful many a fother
And a trewe swynker and a good was he
Leuyng in pes and parfight charite
God loued he beste with alle his herte
At alle tymes though he gamed or smerte
And than his neybour right as hym self
He wolde thressh and therto dike and delf
For cristes sake for every pore wight
With owte hire yf it lay in his myght
His tithes paid he full faire and wele
Bothe of his propre swynke and his catel
In a tabbard he rode vpon̄ a mere
There was also a reve and a meller
A sompnor and a pardoner also
A manciple and my self there were no mo
The millere was a stowte carle for the nones
Full bigge he was of braun̄ and eke of bones
That proued wele for oueral there he cam
At wrasteling he wold have aweye the ram
He was short shuldred a thikke knarre
There was no dore that he ne wolde heve of harre
Or breke it at a rennyng wᵗith his hede
His berd as any snowe
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sowe or fox was red And therto brode as though it were a spade
Vpon̄ his hede and nose coppid he hadde
A wert theron̄ stood a tuft of heris
Rede as the bristelis of sowes erys
His nosethyrles blak were and wide
A swerd and a bokeler bare he be his side
His mouthe as gret was as a gret furneys
He was a iangeler and a goliardeys ·
And that was most of synne and harlotryes
Wele cowde he stele corn and tolle thries
And yit he had a thombe of golde parde
A white coote and a blewe hood werid he
A bagge pipe wele cowde he blowe and sowne
And therwᵗithalle he brought vs owte of towne
A gentill manciple was there of a temple
Of which alle catowrs might take example
For to ben wise in beying of vitaile
For whedir he paied or tooke be tayle
Algate he wayted soo in his achate
That he was aye beforn̄ and good estat
Nowe is not of god awele faire grace
That soche a lewde mānnys witt shal pace
The wisdom of an heepe of lernid menne
Of maistries had he moo than thries ten̄
That were of lawe expert and curious
Of whiche there were a doseyne in that hous
Worthy to ben stiwardes of rent and londe
Of any lord that is in englonde
To make hym lyve by his propir good
In honoure detles but yf he were wood
Or lyve as scarslye as hym list desire
And able for to helpen all a shire
In any caas that myght falle or happe
And yit this manciple sette ther alder cappe
The Reve was a sclendre colerik man
His berd was shave as nygh as euer he can̄
His heer was by his eres full rounde I shorn̄
His toppe was dokked like a preste beforn̄
Full long were his leggis and ful lene
I like a staf there was no calf I seene
Wele cowde he kepe a Garner or a Bynne
Wele he cowde kepe a garner or a bynne
There was non Auditour cowde on hym wynne
Wele wiste he be the drowte and be rayne
The yelding of his seed and of his grayne
Hys lordshippe his nete his deyrie
His swyne his hors his store and his pultrye
Was holly in this Reves. gouernyng
And by his couenaunt yaf the rekenyng
Syn that his lord was twenty yere of age
There cowde noman bryng hym in arrerage
There nas bailyf nor herde nor othre hyne
That he ne knewe his sleight ⁊and his covyne
They were a dred of hym as of the dethe
His wonnyng was ful fayre vpon an heth
With greene trees shadewid was his place
He cowde better than his lord purchase
Full riche he was a stored pryuely
His lorde he cowde wele pleasen subtily
To yeve and leve hym on his owne good
And have a thanke and yit a coote and a hood
In youthe he had lerned a good myster
He was a wele good wright a Carpentere
This Reve sat vpon̄ a wele good stoot
That was a pomely gray that hight scoot
A· long surcote of pers vpon he hade
And be his side he bare a rusty blade
Of Northfolke was this Reve · which I · telle
Be side a · town men clepe it Baldeswelle
Tukkid he was · as is a · Fryere abowte
And ever he rode · the hynderest of the rowte
A· sompnoᵘur was there in that place
That had a · firy · Cherubynnes face
For sawsfleme he was wᵗith eyen narwe
As hoot he was and leccherous as a sparwe
Wᵗith scallid browes blak and piled berd
Of his visage children weren aferd
Ther nas no quycke siluer litarge nor brimston̄
Boras Orsure ne oyle of tartre non
Ne oynement that wolde clense and bite
That hym might helpe of his whelkys white
Nor on the knobbes sittyng on his chekes
Wele loued he garlyk onyoıı̄uns and lekes
And for to drynk strong wyne red as blood
Than wold he speke and crye as he were wood
And whan that he wele dronken had the wyne
Than wold he speke no worde but latyne
A fewe termes had he .ij. or iij.
That he had lerned owte of somme decre
No wonder is he herd it alle the daye
And eke ye knowen it wele how that a Iaye
Can clepe watte as wele as can the pope
But whoso cowde in othre thing hym grope
Than had he spent alle his philosophie
Ay questio quid iuris wolde he crye
He was a gentill harlot and a kynde
A better felawe shold men non fynde
He wold suffre for a quart of wyne
A good felawe to have his concubyne
A twelmonthe and excuse hym at the full
Full pⁱriuylich eke a fynche cowde he pull
And he fonde owhere a good felawe
He wolde techen hym to have non awe
In soche a caas of the Archedekenes curs
But yf mannys sowle were in his purs
For in purs he shold punysshed be
Purs is the Archedekenes helle seide he
But wele I wote he leid right in dede
Of cursyng ought eche gylty man him drede
For curs wille sle right as assoilyng saveth
And also ware hym of a significauit
In dawnger had he at his owne gise
The yong cherles of the Diocise
And knewe hir counseill ⁊and what was alle hir nede rede
A garlond had he sett vpon his hede
As gret as it were for an Ale stake
A bokeler had he hym made of a cake
With hym there rode a gentil pardoner
Of rouncyvale his freend and his comper
That streight was come from the cowrt of rome
Ful lowde he song come hider love to me
This sompnour bare to hym a stif burdoıı̄un
Was nevyr trompe of half so gret a soun
This pardoner had heere as yelwe as wax
But smothe it heng as dothe a strike of flax
By ounces henge his lockys that he had
And therwith he his shuldres on sprad
But thynne it laye be culpoıı̄uns on̄ and on̄
But hood for iolite werid he non
For it was trussed vp in his walet
Hym thought he rode alle of the newe get
Discheuele saf his cappe he rood alle bare
Swich glaryng eyen had he as an hare
A vernicle had he sewid vpon his cappe
His walet beforn hym in his lappe
Bred full of pardoıı̄un come from rome all hoote
A voys he had as smal as a goet
No berd ne had he ne nevyr shuld have
As smothe it was as it were late shave
I trowe he were a gildyng or a mare
But of his crafte from barwik on to ware
Ne Was there soche anothir pardonere
For in his male he had a pelowbere
Which that he seide was oure lady veill
He seid he had a gobbet of the seill
That seint Petir had whan that he went
Vpon the see tille IħuIhesu criste hym sent
He had a cros of latoıı̄un ful of stones
And in a glas he had pigges bones
But wᵗith theise relikes whan that he fonde
A· pore persoıı̄un dwellyng vpon londe
Vpon a daye he gat hym more mony
Than the persoıı̄un gat in monthes twey
And thus he feyned flateryng ⁊and iapes
He made the persoıı̄un and the peple his apes
But truly to tellen at the laste
He was in chirche a noble ecclīesiaste
Wele cowde he reden a lessoıı̄un or a story
But alderbest he song an offertory
For wele he wiste whan þᵗat song was songe
He muste preche and wele file his tonge
To wynne siluer as he wele coude
Therfor he song so merily and loude
Nowe have I tolle you sothely in a clause
❡ Why that assembled was this company
❡ The astat the arraye the nombre ⁊and eke the cause
In southwerke at this gentil hostelery
That hight the tabbard fast by the belle
But nowe is tyme to you for to telle
Howe that we beren vs that ilke night
Whan we were in that hostelery a light
And after wille I tellen of oure viage
And alle the remenᵃaunt of oure pilgrimage
But furst I pray you of youre curtesy
That ye ne recte it not my vilony
Though that I pleynly speke in this matere
To tellen you here wordes and here chere
Ne though I speke hir wordys propirly
For this ye knowen as wele as I
Who shall tellen a tale after a man̄
He mote reherse as nyh as euer he can̄
Everich a word of it be in his charge
All speke he nevir so rudely and large
Or elles he mote tellen his tale vntrewe
Or feyne thynges or fynde wordes newe
He may not spare all though he were his brothir
He mote also wele seye oo word as an othir
Criste spake hym self ful brood in holy writt
And wele ye wote no velany is it
Eke plato seithe whoso can hym rede
The wordes mot be cosyne to the dede
Also I pray you foryeve it me
Though I have not set all folke in here degre
Here in this tale as they shold stonde
My witt is short ye may wele vndirstonde
Gret chere made oure Oste vs euerichon
And to sopere sette he vs a non̄
And servid vs wᵗith vitayles / at the beste
Strong was the wyne and wele drynke vs liste
A semely man oure oste was wᵗith all
For to ben a Marchall in any lordes hall
A large man he was with eyen stepe
A fayrer burgeys is non̄ in chepe
Bolde of his speche and wyse and wele I taught
And of manhode hym lackid right nought
Eke therto he was a mery mān
And after soper pleien he began
And spake of myrthe among othre thynges
Whan that we had made oure rekeninges
And seid thus nowe lordinges trulye
Ye be to me welcome right hertilye
For be my trouthe yf I shold not lye
I seye not this yere so merye a companye
At onys in this herberwe as is nowe
Fayne I wolde do you myrthe and I wist howe
And of a myrthe I am right nowe be thought
To don you ese and it shall coste nought
Ye gon to Cawnterburye god you spede
The blisfull martir quyte you your mede
And wele I wote as ye gon be the weie
Ye shapen you to talen and to pleie
For truly comfort and myrthe is non
To riden by the weie dombe as a ston
And therfor will I make you disport
As I said erst and do you som comfort
And yf you liketh alle by on assent
For to stonden at my Iugement
And for to warken as I shall you seye
To morowe whan we ridyn be the weye
Nowe be my faders sowle that is ded
But if ye be mery I wille yeve you my hede
Hold vp youre hondes wᵗithowte more speche
Oure cownseill was nat longe for to seche
Vs thought it was not worth to make it wis
And graunted hym withowte more avis
And bad hym seye his verdiȝt as hym liste
Lordinges qd he nowe herkenyth for the beste
But take it not I pray you in disdeyne
This is the poynt to speke short and pleyne
That eche of you to short wᵗith youre weye
In this viage shall telle tales tweye
To Cawnterbury . ward I mene it soo
And homwardes he shall telle othir too
Of aventures that have whilom falle
And which of you berith hym best of alle
That is to seyne that tellith in thys caas
Tales of best sentence and most solas
Shall have a sopere at oure alder coste
Here in this place sittyng by this poste
Whan that we comyn ageyn from Cawnterburye
And for to make you the more merye
I wille my self · / goodly with you ride
Right at myn owne cost · and be youre gyde
And whoso will my Iugement wᵗith seye ·
Shall paye all that · we spende be the weie
And yf ye vouchesaf · / that it be soo
Telle me a · non · wᵗithowte wurdes moo ·
And I will erly · / shape me therfor
This thing was graunted · / and oure othes swore
With full glad hert · / and praiden hym also ·
That he wold vouchesaf · / for to do soo ·
And that he wold · be youre gouernour
And of oure tales · Iuge and reportour
And sett a · soper · / at a · certayne pris
And we welne ruled be at his devis
In hih and lowe · / and thus by on assent
We ben accorded · / to the Iugement
And thervpon · / the wyne was fet anon
We dronke and to reste went echon
Withoute any lenger tarying
At morowe whan · the day gan to spring
Vp roos oure oost · and was oure alder cok
And gaderid vs to gidre in a · flok
And forthe we riden · / a · litte more than a · pas
Vnto the wateryng · / of seint Thomas
And there oure oost · / gan his hors areste
And seid lordynges · / herkeneth yf ye lyste
Ye wot youre forwarde · / and I it you recorde
Yf evynsong · / and morowsong accorde
Lat se nowe · / who shall telle the first tale
As ever mote I drynke or ale · wyne or Ale
Who so be rebelle · / to my Iugement
Shall paye for all that · / be the weye is spent
Nowe drawith Cutt · / or we forther twynne
He whiche that hathe the shortest / shal be gynne
Sir knight ꝙquod he · my mayster and my lorde
Nowe drawᵗith Cutt · / for that is myn accorde .
Cometh nere ꝙquod he · / my lady prioresse
And ye sir clerke · / lat be youre shamfastnesse
Ne studieth not · lay hond to · every mān
Anon̄ to drawe every wight began̄
And shortlye · / to tellen as it was
Were it be aventure · / soort · or caas
The sothe is this · / the cutt · fel vnto the knight
Of which full blythe and glad was euery wight
And tellen he moste his tale as it was resoıı̄un
By forward · / and by composicioıı̄un .
As ye han herd · what nedyth wordes moo .
And whan̄ this goodman̄ · / sawe that it was soo .
And that wise was · / and obedient
To kepe his forward · / be his free assent
And seid sithen̄ · I · shall be gynne the game
Welcome be the cutt / · a · goddes name
Nowe late vs ride · / and herkenyth what I · seye
And wᵗith that worde · / we redyn forthe oure weye
And began̄ · with a · mery chere
His tale anon̄ · and saide as ye maye here · /
· Theseus ·
Whilom was olde stories tellen us
There was · a · Duke · / that hight Theseus ·
Of · Atthenes · / he was lord ⁊and gouernoure
And in his tyme · / swich · a · conqueroure
That gretter was non̄ vnder the sonne
Ful many a · riche contre · had he wonne ·