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From The Prioress's Tale, lines 197-217:
The dead boy explains his singing		 Previous
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Prioress's Tale
lines 218-238: The abott stops the boy and the boy is made a martyr


       This hooly monk, this abbot, hym meene I,
His tonge out-caughte, and took awey the greyn,
220And he yaf up the goost ful softely;
And whan this Abbot hadde this wonder seyn,
His salte teeris trikled doun as reyn,
And gruf he fil al plat upon the grounde,
And stille he lay, as he had been ybounde.
       The holy monk, this abbot, so say I,
The tongue caught out and took away the grain,
220And he gave up the ghost, then, easily,
And when the abbot saw this wonder plain,
The salt tears trickled down his cheeks like rain,
And humbly be fell prone upon the ground,
Lying there still as if he had been bound.

225 The covent eek lay on the pavement,
Wepynge, and heryen Cristes mooder deere.
And after that they ryse, and forth been went,
And tooken awey this martir from his beere,
And in a tombe of marbul stones cleere
230Enclosen they his litel body sweete.
Ther he is now, God leve us for to meete!
225 And all the monks lay there on the pavement,
Weeping and praising Jesus' Mother dear,
And after that they rose and forth they went,
Taking away this martyr from his bier,
And in a tomb of marble, carved and clear,
230Did they enclose his little body sweet;
Where he is now- grant us him to meet!

       O yonge Hugh of Lyncoln, slayn also
With cursed Jewes, as it is notable,
For it nis but a litel while ago,
235Preye eek for us, we synful folk unstable,
That of his mercy God so merciable
On us his grete mercy multiplie,
For reverence of his mooder Marie. Amen.
       O you young Hugh of Lincoln, slain also
By cursed Jews, as is well known to all,
Since it was but a little while ago,
235Pray you for us, sinful and weak, who call,
That, of his mercy, God will still let fall
Something of grace, and mercy multiply,
For dignity of his mother dear on high. Amen.



Heere is ended the Prioresses Tale.




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From The Canterbury Tales, The Tale of Sir Thopas		 Next