The Friar's Prologue
This worthy lymytour, this noble frere, Line 1265
He made alwey a maner louryng chiere Line 1266
Upon the somonour, but for honestee Line 1267
No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he. Line 1268
But atte laste he seyde unto the wyf, Line 1269
Dame, quod he, God yeve yow right good lyf! Line 1270
Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee, Line 1271
In scole-matere greet difficultee. Line 1272
Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel, I seye; Line 1273
But, dame, heere as we ryde by the weye, Line 1274
Us nedeth nat to speken but of game, Line 1275
And lete auctoritees, on goddes name, Line 1276
To prechyng and to scole eek of clergye. Line 1277
But if it lyke to this compaignye, Line 1278
I wol yow of a somonour telle a game. Line 1279
Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name Line 1280
That of a somonour may no good be sayd; Line 1281
I praye that noon of you be yvele apayd. Line 1282
A somonour is a rennere up and doun Line 1283
With mandementz for fornicacioun, Line 1284
And is ybet at every townes ende. Line 1285
Oure hoost tho spak, a! sire, ye sholde be hende Line 1286
And curteys, as a man of youre estaat; Line 1287
In compaignye we wol have no debaat. Line 1288
Telleth youre tale, and lat the somonour be. Line 1289
Nay, quod the somonour, lat hym seye to me Line 1290
What so hym list; whan it comth to me lot, Line 1291
By god! I shal hym quiten every grot. Line 1292
I shal hym tellen which a greet honour Line 1293
It is to be a flaterynge lymytour; Line 1294
And eek of many another manere cryme Line 1295
Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme; Line 1296
And his office I shal hym telle, ywis. Line 1297
Oure hoost answerde, pees, namoore of this! Line 1298
And after this he seyde unto the frere, Line 1299
Tel forth youre tale, my leeve maister deere. Line 1300