© Librarius All rights reserved. |
This worthy lymytour, this noble Frere, | |
He made alwey a maner louryng chiere | |
Upon the Somonour, but for honestee | |
No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he. | |
5 | But atte laste he seyde unto the wyf, |
"Dame," quod he, "God yeve yow right good lyf! | |
Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee, | |
In scole-matere greet difficultee. | |
Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel, I seye; | |
10 | But, dame, heere as we ryde by the weye, |
Us nedeth nat to speken but of game, | |
And lete auctoritees, on Goddes name, | |
To prechyng and to scole eek of clergye. | |
But if it lyke to this compaignye, | |
15 | I wol yow of a somonour telle a game. |
Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name | |
That of a somonour may no good be sayd; | |
I praye that noon of you be yvele apayd. | |
A somonour is a rennere up and doun | |
20 | With mandementz for fornicacioun, |
And is ybet at every townes ende." |
Oure Hoost tho spak, "A, sire, ye sholde be hende | |
And curteys, as a man of youre estaat; | |
In compaignye we wol have no debaat. | |
25 | Telleth youre tale, and lat the somonour be." |
"Nay," quod the Somonour, "lat hym seye to me | |
What so hym list; whan it comth to me lot, | |
By God, I shal hym quiten every grot. | |
I shal hym tellen which a greet honour | |
30 | It is to be a flaterynge lymytour; |
And eek of many another manere cryme | |
Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme; | |
And his office I shal hym telle, ywis." |
Oure Hoost answerde, "Pees, namoore of this!" | |
35 | And after this he seyde unto the Frere, |
"Tel forth youre tale, my leeve maister deere." |
Next: The Friar's Tale (ll. 37-400) | © Librarius All rights reserved. |