The Petworth ms. of Chaucer's Canterbury tales. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[6-text p 181]

And here bygynneþ þe prologe of þe priores.

WEl seid by corpus dominus quod our hoste Now longe mote þou saile by þe coste Sire Gentile Maister gentyl marynere God ȝeue þe monk a Ml. last quade ȝere Line 1628 A ha felowes beþ ware of such a Iape Þe Monk put in þe mannys hode an ape And in his wyues eke by seint Austyn Draweþ no mo monkes into ȝour Inne Line 1632 But now passe ouer & lat vs seke aboute Who shal now telle first of al þe route Anoþer tale and wiþ þat word he saide As curteisly as it had bene a Mayde Line 1636 My lady Priores by ȝoure leue So þat I wist I shulde ȝou not greue I wolde deme þat ȝe telle shuld A tale next if so be þat ȝe wold Line 1640 Now wil ȝe vouche sauf my lady dere Gladly quod she and seide in þis manere. [folio 81a]

Thus endeþ þe prologe.

Notes

• ¶ þe prologe.
• on leaf 80, back
• [No break in the MS.]