My witt is thynne. ȝe may wel vndurstonde
GReet cheere made oure ost vs euerichon
And to þe souper sette he vs anon
Line 748
He serued vs with vitaille atte beste
Strong was þe wyn and wel to drynke vs leste
A semely man oure Ooste was wiþ alle
For to han been a Marchal in an halle
Line 752
A large man was he with eyȝen stepe
A fairere burgeys is þer noon in chepe
Bold of his speche and wys and wel I-taught
And of manhede lakkede he right naught
Line 756
Eke þerto he was right a mery man
And after soper playen he bygan
And spak of myrthe. among oþur þinges
whan þat we hadde maad our rekenynges
Line 760
And sayde þus. Lo lordynges trewely [folio 11a]
Ȝe ben to me right welcome hertily
For by my trouthe if þat I schal not lye
I ne saugh þis ȝeer so mery a companye
Line 764
At oones in this herbergh as is now
Fayn wold I do ȝow merthe wiste I how
And of a merthe I am right now bythought
To doon ȝou eese and it schal coste nought
Line 768
Ȝe goon to Caunturbury god ȝou speede
The blisful martir quyte ȝou ȝoure meede
And wel I woot/ as ȝe gon by þe weye
Ȝe schapen ȝow to talken and to pleye
Line 772
For trewely comfort ne merthe is noon
To Ryde by þe weye domb as a stoon
And þerfore wol I make ȝou disport /
As I seyde erst and do ȝou som confort
Line 776
And if ȝow liketh alle by oon assent
Now for to standen at my Iuggement
And for to werken as I schal ȝou seye
To morwe whan ȝe riden by þe weye
Line 780
Now by my fadres soule þat is deed
