The Friar’s TaleThe Prologue
This worthy limitour, this noble Frere,He made always a manner louring cheerUpon the Sompnour; but for honestyNo villain word as yet to him spake he:But at the last he said unto the Wife:“Dame,” quoth he, “God give you right good life,Ye have here touched, all so may I the,In school matter a greate difficulty.Ye have said muche thing right well, I say;But, Dame, here as we ride by the way,Us needeth not but for to speak of game,And leave authorities, in Godde’s name,To preaching, and to school eke of clergy.But if it like unto this company,I will you of a Sompnour tell a game;Pardie, ye may well knowe by the name,That of a Sompnour may no good be said;I pray that none of you be evil paid;A Sompnour is a runner up and downWith mandements for fornicatioun,And is y-beat at every towne’s end.”Then spake our Host; “Ah, sir, ye should be hendAnd courteous, as a man of your estate;In company we will have no debate:Tell us your tale, and let the Sompnour be.”“Nay,” quoth the Sompnour, “let him say by meWhat so him list; when it comes to my lot,By God, I shall him quiten every groat!I shall him telle what a great honourIt is to be a flattering limitourAnd his office I shall him tell y-wis”.Our Host answered, “Peace, no more of this.”And afterward he said unto the frere,“Tell forth your tale, mine owen master dear.”