GROUP A. FRAGMENT I.
§ 1. GENERAL PROLOGUE. CORPUS MS. (Oxford). [[N.B. The first 72 lines, and other gaps, are supplied from MS. Arch. Seld. B. 14, Bodleian Library.]]
Here bigynneth the prolog of this book the which is namede the talis of Caunturbury in the whiche prolog thautour openly declarith the names of alle the pilgremes there condiciouns and there array.
WHan that Apprille / with his shouris soote
the drought of Marche / hath pershid to the roote
and bathed euery veyne in swich licoure
of which vertue / engendrid is the floure
Line 4
whan zepherus eke / with his swete brethe
inspirid hath / in euery holt and hethe
the tendre croppis / and the yonge sonne
hath in the Ram / his halff cours I-ronne
Line 8
and smale fowlis make melodie
that slepen al nyght / with open eyghe
so priketh hem nature / in here coragis
that longen folk to gon / on pilgrimagis
Line 12
and Palmeris for to seke strange strondes
to serue halowes couthe / in sondre londes
and specially / from euery shiris ende
of Ingelond to Caunturbery thei wende
Line 16
the holy blisfull marter / for to seke
that hem hath holpen / whan thei were seke
bifill that on that seson on a day
in Suthwork atte Tabard as I lay
Line 20
redy to wende / on my pilgrimage
to Caunterbury / with ful deuout corage
at night was come / in-to that hosterie
wel .xxix.ti in a companye
Line 24
of sondry folk / bi auenture I-falle
in feloshipe / and pilgremes were thei alle
that toward Caunterbury wolde ryde
