The Nun’s Priest’s TaleThe Epilogue
“Sir Nunne’s Priest,” our hoste said anon,“Y-blessed be thy breech, and every stone;This was a merry tale of Chanticleer.But by my truth, if thou wert seculere,Thou wouldest be a treadefowl aright;For if thou have courage as thou hast might,Thee were need of hennes, as I ween,Yea more than seven times seventeen.See, whate brawnes hath this gentle priest,So great a neck, and such a large breastHe looketh as a sperhawk with his eyenHim needeth not his colour for to dyenWith Brazil, nor with grain of Portugale.But, Sir, faire fall you for your tale’.”And, after that, he with full merry cheerSaid to another, as ye shall hear.