The Friar's Prologue
The Prologe of the Freres tale.
This worthy limitour, this noble Frere,
He made alwey a maner louring chere
Upon the Somnour, but for honestee
No vileyns word as yet to him spak he.
But atte laste he seyde un-to the Wyf,
‘Dame,’ quod he, ‘god yeve yow right good lyf!
Ye han heer touched, al-so moot I thee,
In scole-matere greet difficultee;
Ye han seyd muchel thing right wel, I seye;
But dame, here as we ryden by the weye,
Us nedeth nat to speken but of game,
And lete auctoritees, on goddes name,
To preching and to scole eek of clergye.
But if it lyke to this companye,
I wol yow of a somnour telle a game.
Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name,
That of a somnour may no good be sayd;
I praye that noon of you be yvel apayd.
A somnour is a renner up and doun
With mandements for fornicacioun,
And is y-bet at every tounes ende.’
Our host tho spak, ‘a! sire, ye sholde be hende
And curteys, as a man of your estaat;
In companye we wol have no debaat.
Telleth your tale, and lat the Somnour be.’
‘Nay,’ quod the Somnour, ‘lat him seye to me
What so him list; whan it comth to my lot,
By god, I shal him quyten every grot.
I shal him tellen which a greet honour
It is to be a flateringe limitour;
And his offyce I shal him telle, y-wis.’
Our host answerde, ‘pees, na-more of this.’
And after this he seyde un-to the Frere,
‘Tel forth your tale, leve maister deere.’
Here endeth the Prologe of the Frere.
The Prologue of the Friar’s tale.
This worthy limiter, this noble Friar,
He made alway a manner louring cheer
Upon the Summoner, but for honesty
No villainous word as yet to him spake he.
But at last he said unto the Wife,
“Dame,” quoth he, “god give you right good life!
Ye have here touched, also mote I thee,
In school-matter great difficulty;
Ye have said much thing right well, I say;
But dame, here as we riden by the way,
Us needeth not to speaken but of game,
And let authorities, on god’s name,
To preaching and to school eke of clergy.
But if it like to this company,
I will you of a summoner tell a game.
Pardee, ye may well know by the name,
That of a summoner may no good be said;
I pray that none of you be evil apaid.
A summoner is a runner up and down
With mandements for fornication,
And is y-beat at every town’s end.”
Our host tho spake, “a! sire, ye should be hend
And courteous, as a man of your estate;
In company we will have no debate.
Telleth your tale, and let the Summoner be.”
“Nay,” quoth the Summoner, “let him say to me
What so him list; when it cometh to my lot,
By god, I shall him quiten every groat.
I shall him tellen which a great honour
It is to be a flattering limiter;
And of his office I shall him tell, y-wis.”
Our host answered, “peace, no more of this!”
And after this he said unto the Friar,
“Tell forth your tale, lief master dear.”
Here endeth the Prologue of the Friar.
