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From The Shipman's Tale, lines 400-434:
The interchangeability of money and sex
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Shipman's Tale
lines 435-452: The Host comments on the Shipman's tale and asks the Prioress to tell the next tale



Bihoold the murie wordes of the Hoost to the Shipman and to the lady Prioresse.


435        "Wel seyd, by corpus dominus," quod our Hoost,
"Now longe moote thou saille by the cost,
Sir gentil maister, gentil maryneer.
God yeve this monk a thousand last quade yeer!
A ha! felawes, beth ware of swich a jape.
440The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape,
And in his wyves eek, by Seint Austyn;
Draweth no monkes moore unto your in.
       But now passe over, and lat us seke aboute
Who shal now telle first of al this route
445Another tale?" and with that word he sayde,
As curteisly as it had ben a mayde,
"My lady Prioresse, by youre leve,
So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve,
I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde
450A tale next, if so were that ye wolde.
Now wol ye vouche sauf, my lady deere?"
       "Gladly," quod she, and seyde as ye shal heere.
435        Well said, by corpus dominus," said our host,
"Now long time may you sail along the coast,
Sir gentle master, gentle mariner!
God give this monk a thousand years bitter!
Aha, comrades, beware of such a jape!
440The monk put into that man's hood an ape,
And in the wife's too, by Saint Augustine!
Invite no more monks to your house or inn.
       "But let that pass, and let us look about
To see who shall be next, of all this rout,
445To tell a tale." And after that he said,
As courteously as it had been a maid:
"My lady prioress, and by your leave,
So that I knew I should in no way grieve,
I would opine that tell a tale you should,
450The one that follows next if you but would.
Now will you please vouchsafe it, lady dear?"
       "Gladly," said she, and spoke as you shall hear.




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From The Canterbury Tales, The Prioress's Tale
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