But ȝe be merye smyteþ of myn heed
hold vp ȝoure hond with-oute more speche
Oure counseil was not longe for to seche
Line 784
vs þoughte it nas nat worþ to make it wys
And graunted him wiþoute more avys
And bad him seie his verdite as him leste
LOrdynges quoþ he now herkeneþ for þe beste
Line 788
But taketh not I pray ȝou in disdayn
This is þe poynt to speken schort and playn
That ech of ȝow to schorte with ȝoure weie /
In þis viage schal telle tales tweye
Line 792
To Caunturburiward I mene it so
And homward he schal tellen oþur tuo
Of auentures þat þer han bifalle
And which of ȝow þat bereþ him best of alle
Line 796
That is to seye þat telleþ in þis caas
Tales of best sentence and of solas
Schal han a soper at ȝour alþer cost [folio 11b]
Here in þis place sittynge by þis post
Line 800
whan þat we comen ageyn from Canturbery
And for to make ȝou þe more mery
I wol my seluen gladly with ȝou ryde
Right at myn owen cost and be ȝoure gyde
Line 804
And who-so wole my Iuggement withseie
Schal paye for al we spenden by þe weye
And if ȝe vouche sauf þat it be so
Telle me anoon wiþouten wordes moo
Line 808
And I wole erely schappe me þerfore
This þing was graunted and oure othus swore
with ful glad herte and prayden him also
That he would vouche sauf for to doon so
Line 812
And þat he wolde ben oure gouernour
And of our tales Iugge and reportour
And sette a souper at a certeyn prys
And we wolde rewled be at his deuys
Line 816
In heygh and lowe. and þus by oon assent
