The Shipman’s TaleThe Prologue
Our Host upon his stirrups stood anon,And saide; “Good men, hearken every one,This was a thrifty tale for the nones.Sir Parish Priest,” quoth he, “for Godde’s bones,Tell us a tale, as was thy forword yore:I see well that ye learned men in loreCan muche good, by Godde’s dignity.”The Parson him answer’d, “Ben’dicite!What ails the man, so sinfully to swear?”Our Host answer’d, “O Jankin, be ye there?Now, good men,” quoth our Host, “hearken to me.I smell a Lollard in the wind,” quoth he.“Abide, for Godde’s digne passion,For we shall have a predication:This Lollard here will preachen us somewhat.”“Nay, by my father’s soul, that shall he not,Saide the Shipman; “Here shall he not preach,He shall no gospel glose here nor teach.We all believe in the great God,” quoth he.“He woulde sowe some difficulty,Or springe cockle in our cleane corn.And therefore, Host, I warne thee beforn,My jolly body shall a tale tell,And I shall clinke you so merry a bell,That I shall waken all this company;But it shall not be of philosophy,Nor of physic, nor termes quaint of law;There is but little Latin in my maw.”