The Cook's Prologue
The cook of londoun, whil the reve spak, Line 4325
For joye him thoughte he clawed him on the bak. Line 4326
Ha! ha! quod he, for cristes passion, Line 4327
This millere hadde a sharp conclusion Line 4328
Upon his argument of herbergage! Line 4329
Wel seyde salomon in his langage, Line 4330
-- Ne bryng nat every man into thyn hous; -- Line 4331
For herberwynge by nyghte is perilous. Line 4332
Wel oghte a man avysed for to be Line 4333
Whom that he broghte into his pryvetee. Line 4334
I pray to god, so yeve me sorwe and care Line 4335
If evere, sitthe I highte hogge of ware, Line 4336
Herde I a millere bettre yset a-werk. Line 4337
He hadde a jape of malice in the derk. Line 4338
But God forbede that we stynte heere; Line 4339
And therfore, if ye vouche-sauf to heere Line 4340
A tale of me, that am a povre man, Line 4341
I wol yow telle, as wel as evere I kan, Line 4342
A litel jape that fil in oure citee. Line 4343
Oure hoost answerde and seide, I graunte it thee. Line 4344
Now telle on, roger, looke that it be good; Line 4345
For many a pastee hastow laten blood, Line 4346
And many a jakke of dovere hastow soold Line 4347
That hath been twies hoot and twies coold. Line 4348
Of many a pilgrym hastow cristes curs, Line 4349
For of thy percely yet they fare the wors, Line 4350
That they han eten with thy stubbel goos; Line 4351
For in thy shoppe is many a flye loos. Line 4352
Now telle on, gentil roger by thy name. Line 4353
But yet I pray thee, be nat wroth for game; Line 4354
A man may seye ful sooth in game and pley. Line 4355
Thou seist ful sooth, quod roger, by my fey! Line 4356
But -- sooth pley, quaad pley, -- as the flemyng seith. Line 4357
And therfore, herry bailly, by thy feith, Line 4358
Be thou nat wrooth, er we departen heer, Line 4359
Though that my tale be of an hostileer. Line 4360
But nathelees I wol nat telle it yit; Line 4361
But er we parte, ywis, thou shalt be quit. Line 4362
And therwithal he lough and made cheere, Line 4363
And seyde his tale, as ye shul after heere. Line 4364