But altherbest he song an affertory
ffor wele he wist whan þat song was song
He most preche and wele afile his tong
Line 712
To wyn siluer as he wele koude
Therfore he song so mery and so loude
Now how I tolde you sothely in a clause
The state the array the nombre and the cause
Why þat assembled was this company
Line 717
In Suthwerk at this gentill Ostry
That hight þe Tabard fast by the belle
But now yt ys tyme to yow for to telle
Line 720
How þat we bare vs þat ilk nyght
When we were in þe ostry alight
And after will I telle of our viage
And all the remenaunt of our pilgrymage [Eg. 2726 folio 10a]
Line 724
But first I pray yow of your curtesy
That ye ne arrete nat my velany
Though þat I pleinly speke in this matere
To telle you her wordes and her chere
Line 728
Ne though I speke her wordes proprely
ffor this ye knowe as wele as I
Who-so shall telle a tale after a man
he most reherce as nygh as euer he can
Line 732
Euery word yf yt be in his charge
Speke he neuer so rewdely ne so large
Or elles he mote telle his tale vntrewe
Or feyn thing or fynde wordes newe
Line 736
He may nought spare all-thogh yt were his brother
He mote as wele sey o· worde as an other
Crist spake hym self full brode in holy wryt
And wele ye wote no velany ys yt
Line 740
Eke plato seith who-so can hym rede
The wordes most be cosyn to the dede
Also I pray you to forgeve it me
Thogh I haue nat set folk in her degre
Line 744
Here in this tale as that they shold stond
