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Amorwe, whan that day bigan to sprynge, |
| 825 | Up roos oure Hoost, and was oure aller cok, |
| And gadrede us to gidre alle in a flok, |
| And forth we riden, a litel moore than paas |
| Unto the wateryng of Seint Thomas; |
| And there oure Hoost bigan his hors areste |
| 830 | And seyde, "Lordynges, herkneth if yow leste. |
| Ye woot youre foreward, and I it yow recorde. |
| If even-song and morwe-song accorde, |
| Lat se now who shal telle the firste tale. |
| As evere mote I drynke wyn or ale, |
| 835 | Whoso be rebel to my juggement |
| Shal paye for al that by the wey is spent. |
| Now draweth cut, er that we ferrer twynne, |
| He which that hath the shorteste shal bigynne. |
| Sire Knyght," quod he, "my mayster and my lord, |
| 840 | Now draweth cut, for that is myn accord. |
| Cometh neer," quod he, "my lady Prioresse, |
| And ye, Sir Clerk, lat be youre shamefastnesse, |
| Ne studieth noght; ley hond to, every man!" |
| Anon to drawen every wight bigan, |
| 845 | And shortly for to tellen as it was, |
| Were it by aventure, or sort, or cas, |
| The sothe is this, the cut fil to the Knyght, |
| Of which ful blithe and glad was every wyght. |
| And telle he moste his tale, as was resoun, |
| 850 | By foreward and by composicioun,- |
| As ye han herd, what nedeth wordes mo? |
| And whan this goode man saugh that it was so, |
| As he that wys was and obedient |
| To kepe his foreward by his free assent, |
| 855 | He seyde, "Syn I shal bigynne the game, |
| What, welcome be the cut, a Goddes name! |
| Now lat us ryde, and herkneth what I seye." |
| And with that word we ryden forth oure weye, |
| And he bigan with right a myrie cheere |
| 860 | His tale anon, and seyde as ye may heere. |
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|
Next morning, when the day began to spring, |
| 825 | Up rose our host, and acting as our cock, |
| He gathered us together in a flock, |
| And forth we rode, a a little faster than pace, |
| Until we reached Saint Thomas' watering-place. |
| Our host then pulled his horse, began to ease |
| 830 | And said: "Now, gentleman, listen if you please. |
| You know what you agreed, I'll remind thee. |
| If even-song and morning-song agree, |
| Let's here decide who first shall tell a tale. |
| And as I hope to drink more wine and ale, |
| 835 | Whoso proves rebel to my very judgment |
| Shall pay for all that by the way is spent. |
| Come now, draw straws, before we further depart, |
| And he that draws the shortest has to start. |
| Sir knight," said he, "my master and my lord, |
| 840 | You shall draw first as you have pledged your word. |
| Come near," said he, "my lady prioress: |
| And you, sir clerk, away with all your shyness, |
| Nor ponder more; out hands, draw, every man!" |
| At once to draw a straw each one began, |
| 845 | And, to shorten up the story, as it was, |
| By chance or luck or whatsoever cause, |
| The truth is, that the cut fell to the knight, |
| Which all the others greeted with delight. |
| Thus tell his story first as was agreed, |
| 850 | According to our promise pledged, indeed, |
| As you have heard. Why argue to and fro? |
| And when this good man saw that it was so, |
| Being a wise man and obedient |
| To pledged word, given by free assent, |
| 855 | He said: "Since I must then begin the game, |
| Why, welcome be the cut, and in God's name! |
| Now let us ride, and listen to what I say." |
| And at that word we rode forth on our way; |
| And he began to speak, with words of cheer, |
| 860 | His tale straightway, and said as you may hear. |
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