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From The Wife of Bath's Prologue, lines 794-834:
Irritation, anger, a fight, deafness and a happy end		 Previous
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From The Canterbury Tales:
The Wife of Bath's Prologue
lines 835-862: The dialogue between the Summoner and the Friar


Biholde the wordes bitwene the Somonour and the Frere.


835        The Frere lough whan he hadde herd al this.-
"Now dame," quod he, "so have I joye or blis,
This is a long preamble of a tale."
And whan the Somonour herde the Frere gale,
"Lo," quod the Somonour, "Goddes armes two,
840A frere wol entremette hym everemo.
Lo goode men, a flye and eek a frere
Wol falle in every dyssh and eek mateere.
What spekestow of preambulacioun?
What, amble, or trotte, or pees, or go sit doun,
845Thou lettest oure disport in this manere."
835      The friar laughed when he had heard all this.
"Now dame," said he, "so have I joy or bliss
This is a long preamble to a tale!"
And when the summoner heard this friar's hail,
"Lo," said the summoner, "by God's arms two!
840A friar will always interfere, mark you.
Behold, good men, a housefly and a friar
Will fall in every dish and matters higher.
Why speak of preambling; you in your gown?
What! Amble, trot, hold peace, or go sit down;
845You hinder our diversion thus to inquire."
       "Ye, woltow so, sire Somonour?" quod the Frere,
"Now by my feith, I shal er that I go
Telle of a somonour swich a tale or two
That alle the folk shal laughen in this place."
850       "Now elles, frere, I bishrewe thy face,"
Quod this Somonour, "and I bishrewe me,
But if I telle tales two or thre
Of freres, er I come to Sidyngborne,
That I shal make thyn herte for to morne,
855For wel I woot thy pacience in gon."
       Oure Hooste cride, "Pees, and that anon!"
And seyde, "lat the womman telle hire tale,
Ye fare as folk that dronken were of ale.
Do, dame, telle forth youre tale, and that is best."
860       "Al redy, sire," quod she, "right as yow lest,
If I have licence of this worthy Frere."
       "Yis, dame," quod he, "tel forth, and I wol heere."
      "Aye, say you so, sir summoner?" said the friar,
"Now by my faith I will, before I go,
Tell of a summoner such a tale, or so,
That all the folk shall laugh who're in this place'
850       "Otherwise, friar, I beshrew your face,"
Replied this summoner, "and beshrew me
If I do not tell tales here, two or three,
Of friars ere I come to Sittingbourne,
That certainly will give you cause to mourn,
855For well I know your patience will be gone."
       Our host cried out, "Now peace, and that anon!"
And said he: "Let the woman tell her tale.
You act like people who are drunk with ale.
Do, lady, tell your tale, and that is best."
860       "All ready, sir," said she, "as you request,
If I have license of this worthy friar."
       "Yes, dame," said he, "to hear you's my desire."




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From The Wife of Bath's Tale, lines 863-887:
Introduction		 Next