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From The Parson's Prologue, lines 01-21:
The Manciple has finished his tale and the Host wants one more tale
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Parson's Prologue
lines 22-60: The Parson is willing to tell a tale in prose


       Sire preest," quod he, "artow a vicary?
Or arte a person? Sey sooth, by the fey!
Be what thou be, ne breke thou nat oure pley;
25For every man, save thou, hath toold his tale.
Unbokele, and shewe us what is in thy male;
For, trewely, me thynketh by thy cheere
Thou sholdest knytte up wel a greet mateere.
Telle us a fable anon, for cokkes bones!"
30       This Persoun answerde, al atones,
"Thou getest fable noon ytoold for me;
For Paul, that writeth unto Thymothee,
Repreveth hem that weyven soothfastnesse,
And tellen fables and swich wrecchednesse.
35Why sholde I sowen draf out of my fest,
Whan I may sowen whete, if that me lest?
For which I seye, if that yow list to heere
Moralitee and vertuous mateere,
And thanne that ye wol yeve me audience,
40I wol ful fayn, at Cristes reverence,
Do yow plesaunce leefful, as I kan.
But trusteth wel, I am a southren man,
I kan nat geeste 'rum, ram, ruf,' by lettre,
Ne, God woot, ryn holde I but litel bettre;
45And therfore, if yow list - I wol nat glose -
I wol yow telle a myrie tale in prose
To knytte up al this feeste, and make an ende.
And Jhesu, for his grace, wit me sende
To shewe yow the wey, in this viage,
50Of thilke parfit glorious pilgrymage
That highte Jerusalem celestial.
And if ye vouche sauf, anon I shal
Bigynne upon my tale, for which I preye
Telle youre avys, I kan no bettre seye.
       Sir preest," said he, "are you a vicar?
Or are you a parson? Tell the truth, by your faith
Be whatever you are, but break not the rules of the game
25For every man, except you, has told his tale
Unbuckle and reveal us what is in your bag
For truly, it seems to me from your appearance
You could easily knit a great story.
Tell us some fiction straightway, for cock's bones."
30       The Parson answered, immediately,
"You will not get fiction told by me
Because Paul, who writes to Timothy
Reproves them that wave truthfulness
And tell fictional tales and such misery
35Why should I sow chaff out of my hand,
When I wish to sow wheat on the land?
That is why I say, if you are pleased to hear,
Morality and virtuous subject matters,
And provided that you will give me your attention
40I will very gladly, in respect of Christ
Give you persmissable delight, as far as I can.
But know well, I am a southern man
I cannot recite ´rum, ram, ruf,´ letter after letter
And, God knows, rime I consider but little better
45And therefore, if you please - I will not lie -
I will tell you a merry tale in prose
To finish all this festivity and make an end
And Jesus, for his grave, send me wit
To show you the way, in this journey
50Of that same perfect glorious pilgrimage
That is called Jerusalem celestial.
And if you agree, straightway I shall
Begin my tale, for which to you I pray
To tell your opinion, I cannot better say
55        But nathelees, this meditacioun
I putte it ay under correccioun
Of clerkes, for I am nat textueel;
I take but the sentence, trusteth weel.
Therfore I make protestacioun
60That I wol stonde to correccioun."
55       But none the less, this meditation
I put it always subject to correction
By clerks, because I am not learned in texts well
I take only the meaning, trust it well
Therefore I make this declaration
60That I will be subject to correction."




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From The Parson's Prologue, lines 61-74:
The Host asks the parson to tell his tale
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