The Squire’s TaleThe Prologue
“Hey! Godde’s mercy!” said our Hoste tho,“Now such a wife I pray God keep me fro’.Lo, suche sleightes and subtilitiesIn women be; for aye as busy as beesAre they us silly men for to deceive,And from the soothe will they ever weive,As this Merchante’s tale it proveth well.But natheless, as true as any steel,I have a wife, though that she poore be;But of her tongue a labbing shrew is she;And yet she hath a heap of vices mo’.Thereof no force; let all such thinges go.But wit ye what? in counsel be it said,Me rueth sore I am unto her tied;For, an’ I shoulde reckon every viceWhich that she hath, y-wis I were too nice;And cause why, it should reported beAnd told her by some of this company(By whom, it needeth not for to declare,Since women connen utter such chaffare),And eke my wit sufficeth not theretoTo tellen all; wherefore my tale is do.Squier, come near, if it your wille be,And say somewhat of love, for certes yeConne thereon as much as any man.”“Nay, Sir,” quoth he; “but such thing as I can,With hearty will, — for I will not rebelAgainst your lust, — a tale will I tell.Have me excused if I speak amiss;My will is good; and lo, my tale is this.”