The Summoner's Prologue
1665: This somonour in his styropes hye stood; 
1666: Upon this frere his herte was so wood 
1667: That lyk an aspen leef he quook for ire. 
1668: Lordynges, quod he, but o thyng I desire; 
1669: I yow biseke that, of youre curteisye, 
1670: Syn ye han herd this false frere lye, 
1671: As suffreth me I may my tale telle. 
1672: This frere bosteth that he knoweth helle, 
1673: And God it woot, that it is litel wonder; 
1674: Freres and feendes been but lyte asonder. 
1675: For, pardee, ye han ofte tyme herd telle 
1676: How that a frere ravyshed was to helle 
1677: In spirit ones by a visioun; 
1678: And as an angel ladde hym up and doun, 
1679: To shewen hym the peynes that the were, 
1680: In al the place saugh he nat a frere; 
1681: Of oother folk he saugh ynowe in wo. 
1682: Unto this angel spak the frere tho: 
1683: Now, sire, quod he, han freres swich a grace 
1684: That noon of hem shal come to this place? 
1685: Yis, quod this aungel, many a millioun! 
1686: And unto sathanas he ladde hym doun. 
1687: -- And now hath sathanas, -- seith he, -- a tayl 
1688: Brodder than of a carryk is the sayl. 
1689: Hold up thy tayl, thou sathanas! -- quod he; 
1690: -- shewe forth thyn ers, and lat the frere se 
1691: Where is the nest of freres in this place! -- 
1692: And er that half a furlong wey of space, 
1693: Right so as bees out swarmen from an hyve, 
1694: Out of the develes ers ther gonne dryve 
1695: Twenty thousand freres on a route, 
1696: And thurghout helle swarmed al aboute, 
1697: And comen agayn as faste as they may gon, 
1698: And in his ers they crepten everychon. 
1699: He clapte his tayl agayn and lay ful stille. 
1700: This frere, whan he looked hadde his fille 
1701: Upon the tormentz of this sory place, 
1702: His spirit God restored, of his grace, 
1703: Unto his body agayn, and he awook. 
1704: But natheles, for fere yet he quook, 
1705: So was the develes ers ay in his mynde, 
1706: That is his heritage of verray kynde. 
1707: God save yow alle, save this cursed frere! 
1708: My prologe wol I ende in this manere.

The Summoner's Tale
1709: Lordynges, ther is in yorkshire, as I gesse, 
1710: A mersshy contree called holdernesse, 
1711: In which ther wente a lymytour aboute, 
1712: To preche, and eek to begge, it so no doute. 
1713: And so bifel that on a day this frere 
1714: Hadde preched at a chirche in his manere, 
1715: And specially, aboven every thyng, 
1716: Excited he the peple in his prechyng 
1717: To trentals, and to yeve, for goddes sake, 
1718: Wherwith men myghte hooly houses make, 
1719: Ther as divine servyce is honoured, 
1720: Nat ther as it is wasted and devoured, 
1721: Ne ther it nedeth nat for to be yive, 
1722: As to possessioners, that mowen lyve, 
1723: Thanked be god, in wele and habundaunce. 
1724: Trentals, seyde he, deliveren fro penaunce 
1725: Hir freendes soules, as wel olde as yonge, -- 
1726: Ye, whan that they been hastily ysonge, 
1727: Nat for to holde a preest holy and gay -- 
1728: He syngeth nat but o masse in a day. 
1729: Delivereth out, quod he, anon the soules! 
1730: Ful hard it is with flesshhook or with oules 
1731: To been yclawed, or to brenne or bake. 
1732: Now spede yow hastily, for cristes sake! 
1733: And whan this frere had seyd al his entente, 
1734: With qui cum patre forth his wey he wente. 
1735: Whan folk in chirche had yeve him what hem leste, 
1736: He wente his wey, no lenger wolde he reste, 
1737: With scrippe and tipped staf, ytukked hye, 
1738: In every hous he gan to poure and prye, 
1739: And beggeth mele and chese, or elles corn. 
1740: His felawe hadde a staf tipped with horn, 
1741: A peyre of tables al of yvory, 
1742: And a poyntel polysshed fetisly, 
1743: And wrooth the names alwey, as he stood, 
1744: Of alle folk that yaf hym any good, 
1745: Ascaunces that he wolde for hem preye. 
1746: Yif us a busshel whete, malt, or reye, 
1747: A goddes kechyl, or a trype of chese, 
1748: Or elles what yow lyst, we may nat cheese; 
1749: A goddes halfpeny, or a masse peny, 
1750: Or yif us of youre brawn, if ye have eny; 
1751: A dagon of youre blanket, leeve dame, 
1752: Oure suster deere, -- lo! heere I write youre name, -- 
1753: Bacon or beef, or swich thyng as ye fynde. 
1754: A sturdy harlot wente ay hem bihynde, 
1755: That was hir hostes man, and bar a sak, 
1756: And what men yaf hem, leyde it on his bak. 
1757: And whan that he was out at dore, anon 
1758: He planed awey the names everichon 
1759: That he biforn had writen in his tables; 
1760: He served hem with nyfles and with fables. 
1761: Nay, ther thou lixt, thou somonour! quod the frere. 
1762: Pees, quod oure hoost, for cristes mooder deere! 
1763: Tel forth thy tale, and spare it nat at al. 
1764: So thryve I, quod this somonour, so I shal! 
1765: So longe he wente, hous by hous, til he 
1766: Cam til an hous ther he was wont to be 
1767: Refresshed moore than in an hundred placis. 
1768: Syk lay the goode man whos that the place is; 
1769: Bedrede upon a couche lowe he lay. 
1770: Deus hic! quod he, o thomas, freend, good day! 
1771: Seyde this frere, curteisly and softe. 
1772: Thomas, quod he, God yelde yow! ful ofte 
1773: Have I upon this bench faren ful weel; 
1774: Heere have I eten many a myrie meel. 
1775: And fro the bench he droof awey the cat, 
1776: And leyde adoun his potente and his hat, 
1777: And eek his scrippe, and sette hym softe adoun. 
1778: His felawe was go walked into toun 
1779: Forth with his knave, into that hostelrye 
1780: Where as he shoop hym thilke nyght to lye. 
1781: O deere maister, quod this sike man, 
1782: How han ye fare sith that march bigan? 
1783: I saugh yow noght this fourtenyght or moore. 
1784: God woot, quod he, laboured have I ful soore, 
1785: And specially, for thy savacion 
1786: Have I seyd many a precious orison, 
1787: And for oure othere freendes, God hem blesse! 
1788: I have to day been at youre chirche at messe, 
1789: And seyd a sermon after my symple wit, 
1790: Nat al after the text of hooly writ; 
1791: For it is hard to yow, as I suppose, 
1792: And therfore wol I teche yow al the glose. 
1793: Glosynge is a glorious thyng, certeyn, 
1794: For lettre sleeth, so as we clerkes seyn. 
1795: There have I taught hem to be charitable, 
1796: And spende hir good ther it is resonable; 
1797: And there I saugh oure dame, -- a! where is she? 
1798: Yond in the yerd I trowe that she be, 
1799: Seyde this man,and she wol come anon. 
1800: Ey, maister, welcome be ye, by seint john! 
1801: Seyde this wyf, how fare ye, hertely? 
1802: The frere ariseth up ful curteisly, 
1803: And hire embraceth in his armes narwe, 
1804: And kiste hire sweete, and chirketh as a sparwe 
1805: With his lyppes: dame, quod he, right weel, 
1806: As he that is youre servent every deel, 
1807: Thanked be god, that yow yaf soule and lyf! 
1808: Yet saugh I nat this day so fair a wyf 
1809: In al the chirche, God so save me! 
1810: Ye, God amende defautes, sire, quod she. 
1811: Algates, welcome be ye, by my fey! 
1812: Graunt mercy, dame, this have I founde alwey. 
1813: But of youre grete goodnesse, by youre leve, 
1814: I wolde prey yow that ye nat yow greve, 
1815: I wole with thomas speke a litel throwe. 
1816: Thise curatz been ful necligent and slowe 
1817: To grope tendrely a conscience 
1818: In shrift; in prechyng is my diligence, 
1819: And studie in petres wordes and in poules. 
1820: I walke, and fisshe cristen mennes soules, 
1821: To yelden jhesu crist his propre rente; 
1822: To sprede his word is set al myn entente. 
1823: Now, by youre leve, o deere sire, she, 
1824: Chideth him weel, for seinte trinitee! 
1825: He is as angry as a pissemyre, 
1826: Though that he have al that he kan desire, 
1827: Though I hym wrye a-nyght and make hym warm, 
1828: And over hym leye my leg outher myn arm, 
1829: He groneth lyk oure boor, lith in oure sty. 
1830: Oother desport right noon of hym have I; 
1831: I may nat plese hym in no maner cas. 
1832: O thomas, je vous dy, thomas! thomas! 
1833: This maketh the feend; this moste ben amended. 
1834: Ire is a thyng that hye God defended, 
1835: And therof wol I speke a word or two. 
1836: Now, maister, quod the wyf, er that I go, 
1837: What wol ye dyne? I wol go theraboute. 
1838: Now dame, quod he, now je vous dy sanz doute, 
1839: Have I nat of a capon but the lyvere, 
1840: And of youre softe breed nat but a shyvere, 
1841: And after that a rosted pigges heed -- 
1842: But that I nolde no beest for me were deed -- 
1843: Thanne hadde I with yow hoomly suffisaunce. 
1844: I am a man of litel sustenaunce; 
1845: My spirit hath his fostryng in the bible. 
1846: The body is ay so redy and penyble 
1847: To wake, that my stomak is destroyed. 
1848: I prey yow, dame, ye be nat anoyed, 
1849: Though I so freendly yow my conseil shewe. 
1850: By god! I wolde nat telle it but a fewe. 
1851: Now, sire, quod she, but o word er I go. 
1852: My child is deed withinne thise wykes two, 
1853: Soone after that ye wente out of this toun. 
1854: His deeth saugh I by revelacioun, 
1855: Seide this frere, at hoom in oure dortour. 
1856: I dar wel seyn that, er that half an hour 
1857: After his deeth, I saugh hym born to blisse 
1858: In myn avision, so God me wisse! 
1859: So didde oure sexteyn and oure fermerer, 
1860: That han been trewe freres fifty yeer; 
1861: They may now -- God be thanked of his loone! -- 
1862: Maken hir jubilee and walke allone. 
1863: And up I roos, and al oure covent eke, 
1864: With many a teere trillyng on my cheke, 
1865: Withouten noyse or claterynge of belles; 
1866: Te deum was oure song, and nothyng elles, 
1867: Save that to crist I seyde an orison, 
1868: Thankynge hym of his revelacion. 
1869: For, sire and dame, trusteth me right weel, 
1870: Oure orisons been moore effectueel, 
1871: And moore we seen of cristes secree thynges, 
1872: Than burel folk, although they weren kynges. 
1873: We lyve in poverte and in abstinence, 
1874: And burell folk in richesse and despence 
1875: Of mete and drynke, and in hir foul delit. 
1876: We han this worldes lust al in despit. 
1877: Lazar and dives lyveden diversly, 
1878: And divers gerdon hadden they therby. 
1879: Whoso wol preye, he moot faste and be clene, 
1880: And fatte his soule, and make his body lene. 
1881: We fare as seith th' apostle; clooth and foode 
1882: Suffisen us, though they be nat ful goode. 
1883: The clennesse and the fastynge of us freres 
1884: Maketh that crist accepteth oure preyeres. 
1885: Lo, moyses fourty dayes and fourty nyght 
1886: Fasted, er that the heighe God of myght 
1887: Spak with hym in the mountayne of synay. 
1888: With empty wombe, fastynge many a day, 
1889: Receyved he the lawe that was writen 
1890: With goddes fynger; and elye, wel ye witen, 
1891: In mount oreb, er he hadde any speche 
1892: With hye god, that is oure lyves leche, 
1893: He fasted longe, and was in contemplaunce. 
1894: Aaron, that hadde the temple in governaunce, 
1895: And eek the othere preestes everichon, 
1896: Into the temple whan they sholde gon 
1897: To preye for the peple, and do servyse, 
1898: They nolden drynken in no maner wyse 
1899: No drynke which that myghte hem dronke make, 
1900: But there in abstinence preye and wake, 
1901: Lest that they deyden. Taak heede what I seye! 
1902: But they be sobre that for the peple preye, 
1903: War that I seye -- namoore, for it suffiseth. 
1904: Oure lord jhesu, as hooly writ devyseth, 
1905: Yaf us ensample of fastynge and preyeres. 
1906: Therfore we mendynantz, we sely freres, 
1907: Been wedded to poverte and continence, 
1908: To charite, humblesse, and abstinence, 
1909: To persecucioun for rightwisnesse, 
1910: To wepynge, misericorde, and clennesse. 
1911: And therfore may ye se that oure preyeres -- 
1912: I speke of us, we mendynantz, we freres -- 
1913: Been to the hye God moore acceptable 
1914: Than youres, with youre feestes at the table. 
1915: Fro paradys first, if I shal nat lye, 
1916: Was man out chaced for his glotonye; 
1917: And chaast was man in paradys, certeyn. 
1918: But herkne now, thomas, what I shal seyn. 
1919: I ne have no text of it, as I suppose, 
1920: But I shal fynde it in a maner glose, 
1921: That specially oure sweete lord jhesus 
1922: Spak this by freres, whan he seyde thus: 
1923: -- Blessed be they that povere in spirit been. -- 
1924: And so forth al the gospel may ye seen, 
1925: Wher it be likker oure professioun, 
1926: Or hirs that swymmen in possessioun. 
1927: Fy on hire pompe and on hire glotonye! 
1928: And for hir lewednesse I hem diffye. 
1929: My thynketh they been lyk jovinyan, 
1930: Fat as a whale, and walkynge as a swan, 
1931: Al vinolent as botel in the spence. 
1932: Hir preyere is of ful greet reverence, 
1933: Whan they for soules seye the psalm of davit; 
1934: Lo, -- buf! -- they seye, -- cor meum eructavit! -- 
1935: Who folweth cristes gospel and his foore, 
1936: But we that humble been, and chaast, and poore, 
1937: Werkeris of goddes word, nat auditours? 
1938: Therfore, right as an hauk up at a sours 
1939: Up springeth into th' eir, right so prayeres 
1940: Of charitable and chaste bisy freres 
1941: Maken hir sours to goddes eres two. 
1942: Thomas! thomas! so moote I ryde or go, 
1943: And by that lord that clepid is seint yve, 
1944: Nere thou oure brother, sholdestou nat thryve. 
1945: In our chapitre prayer we day and nyght 
1946: To crist, that he thee sende heele and myght 
1947: Thy body for to weelden hastily. 
1948: God woot, quod he, nothyng therof feele i! 
1949: As help me crist, as I in fewe yeres, 
1950: Have spent upon diverse manere freres 
1951: Ful many a pound; yet fare I never the bet. 
1952: Certeyn, my good have I almoost biset. 
1953: Farwel, my gold, for it is al ago! 
1954: The frere answerde, o thomas, dostow so? 
1955: What nedeth yow diverse freres seche? 
1956: What nedeth hym that hath a parfit leche 
1957: To sechen othere leches in the toun? 
1958: Youre inconstance is youre confusioun. 
1959: Holde ye thanne me, or elles oure covent, 
1960: To praye for yow been insufficient? 
1961: Thomas, that jape nys nat worth a myte. 
1962: Youre maladye is for we han to lyte. 
1963: A! yif that covent half a quarter otes! 
1964: A! yif that covent foure and twenty grotes! 
1965: A! yif that frere a peny, and lat hym go! 
1966: Nay, nay, thomas, it may no thyng be so! 
1967: What is a ferthyng worth parted in twelve? 
1968: Lo, ech thyng that is oned in himselve 
1969: Is moore strong than whan it is toscatered. 
1970: Thomas, of me thou shalt nat been yflatered; 
1971: Thou woldest han oure labour al for noght. 
1972: The hye god, that al this world hath wroght, 
1973: Seith that the werkman worthy is his hyre. 
1974: Thomas, noght of youre tresor I desire 
1975: As for myself, but that al oure covent 
1976: To preye for yow is ay so diligent, 
1977: And for to buylden cristes owene chirche. 
1978: Thomas, if ye wol lernen for to wirche, 
1979: Of buyldynge up of chirches may ye fynde, 
1980: If it be good, in thomas lyf of inde. 
1981: Ye lye heere ful of anger and of ire, 
1982: With which the devel set youre herte afyre, 
1983: And chiden heere the sely innocent, 
1984: Youre wyf, that is so meke and pacient. 
1985: And therfore, thomas, trowe me if thee leste, 
1986: Ne stryve nat with thy wyf, as for thy beste; 
1987: And ber this word awey now, by thy feith, 
1988: Touchynge swich thyng, lo, what the wise seith: 
1989: -- Withinne thyn hous ne be thou no leon; 
1990: To thy subgitz do noon oppression, 
1991: Ne make thyne aqueyntances nat to flee. -- 
1992: And, thomas, yet eft-soones I charge thee, 
1993: Be war from hire that in thy bosom slepeth; 
1994: War fro the serpent that so slily crepeth 
1995: Under the gras, and styngeth subtilly. 
1996: Be war, my sone, and herkne paciently, 
1997: That twenty thousand men han lost hir lyves 
1998: For stryvyng with hir lemmans and hir wyves. 
1999: Now sith ye han so hooly and meke a wyf, 
2000: What nedeth yow, thomas, to maken stryf? 
2001: Ther nys, ywys, no serpent so cruel, 
2002: Whan man tret on his tayl, ne half so fel, 
2003: As womman is, whan she hath caught an ire; 
2004: Vengeance is thanne al that they desire. 
2005: Ire is a synne, oon of the grete of sevene, 
2006: Abhomynable unto the God of hevene; 
2007: And to hymself it is destruccion. 
2008: This every lewed viker or person 
2009: Kan seye, how ire engendreth homycide. 
2010: Ire is, in sooth, executour of pryde. 
2011: I koude of ire seye so muche sorwe, 
2012: My tale sholde laste til to-morwe. 
2013: And therfore preye I god, bothe day and nyght, 
2014: An irous man, God sende hym litel myght! 
2015: It is greet harm and certes greet pitee 
2016: To sette an irous man in heigh degree. 
2017: Whilom ther was an irous potestat, 
2018: As seith senek, that, durynge his estaat, 
2019: Upon a day out ryden knyghtes two, 
2020: And as fortune wolde that it were so, 
2021: That oon of hem cam hoom, that oother noght. 
2022: Anon the knyght bifore the juge is broght, 
2023: That seyde thus, -- thou hast thy felawe slayn, 
2024: For which I deme thee to the deeth, certayn. -- 
2025: And to another knyght comanded he, 
2026: -- Go lede hym to the deeth, I charge thee, -- 
2027: And happed, as they wente by the weye 
2028: Toward the place ther he sholde deye, 
2029: The knyght cam which men wenden had be deed. 
2030: Thanne thoughte they it were the beste reed 
2031: To lede hem bothe to the juge agayn. 
2032: They seiden,-lord, the knyght ne hath nat slayn 
2033: His felawe; heere he standeth hool alyve. -- 
2034: -- Ye shul be deed, -- quod he, -- so moot I thryve! 
2035: That is to seyn, bothe oon, and two, and thre! -- 
2036: And to the firste knyght right thus spak he, 
2037: -- I dampned thee; thou most algate be deed. 
2038: And thou also most nedes lese thyn heed, 
2039: For thou art cause why thy felawe deyth. -- 
2040: And to the thridde knyght right thus he seith, 
2041: -- Thou hast nat doon that I comanded thee. -- 
2042: And thus he dide doon sleen hem alle thre. 
2043: Irous cambises was eek dronkelewe, 
2044: And ay delited hym to been a shrewe. 
2045: And so bifel, a lord of his meynee, 
2046: That loved vertuous moralitee, 
2047: Seyde on a day bitwix hem two right thus: 
2048: -- A lord is lost, if he be vicius; 
2049: And dronkenesse is eek a foul record 
2050: Of any man, and namely in a lord. 
2051: Ther is ful many an eye and many an ere 
2052: Awaityng on a lord, and he noot where. 
2053: For goddes love, drynk moore attemprely! 
2054: Wyn maketh man to lesen wrecchedly 
2055: His mynde and eek his lymes everichon. -- 
2056: -- The revers shaltou se, -- quod he, -- anon, 
2057: And preve it by thyn owene experience, 
2058: That wyn ne dooth to folk no swich offence. 
2059: Ther is no wyn bireveth me my myght 
2060: Of hand ne foot, ne of myne eyen sight. -- 
2061: And for despit he drank ful muchel moore, 
2062: An hondred part, than he hadde don bifoore; 
2063: And right anon this irous, cursed wrecche 
2064: Leet this knyghtes sone bifore hym fecche, 
2065: Comandynge hym he sholde bifore hym stonde. 
2066: And sodeynly he took his bowe in honde, 
2067: And up the streng he pulled to his ere, 
2068: And with an arwe he slow the child right there. 
2069: -- Now wheither have I a siker hand or noon? -- 
2070: Quod he; -- is al my myght and mynde agon? 
2071: Hath wyn bireved me myn eyen sight? -- 
2072: What sholde I telle th' answere of the knyght? 
2073: His sone was slayn, ther is namoore to seye. 
2074: Beth war, therfore, with lordes how ye pleye. 
2075: Syngeth placebo, and -- I shal, if I kan, -- 
2076: But if it be unto a povre man. 
2077: To a povre man men sholde his vices telle, 
2078: But nat to a lord, thogh he sholde go to helle. 
2079: Lo irous cirus, thilke percien, 
2080: How he destroyed the ryver of gysen, 
2081: For that an hors of his was dreynt therinne, 
2082: Whan that he wente babiloigne to wynne. 
2083: He made that the ryver was so smal 
2084: That wommen myghte wade it over al. 
2085: Lo, what seyde he that so wel teche kan? 
2086: -- Ne be no felawe to an irous man, 
2087: Ne with no wood man walke by the weye, 
2088: Lest thee repente; -- I wol no ferther seye. 
2089: Now, thomas, leeve brother, lef thyn ire; 
2090: Thou shalt me fynde as just as is a squyre. 
2091: Hoold nat the develes knyf ay at thyn herte -- 
2092: Thyn angre dooth thee al to soore smerte -- 
2093: But shewe to me al thy confessioun. 
2094: nay, quod the sike man, by seint symoun! 
2095: I have be shryven this day at my curat. 
2096: I have hym toold hoolly al myn estat; 
2097: Nedeth namoore to speken of it, seith he, 
2098: But if me list, of myn humylitee. 
2099: Yif me thanne of thy gold, to make oure cloystre, 
2100: Quod he, for many a muscle and many an oystre, 
2101: Whan othere men han ben ful wel at eyse, 
2102: Hath been oure foode, our cloystre for to reyse. 
2103: And yet, God woot, unnethe the fundement 
2104: Parfourned is, ne of our pavement 
2105: Nys nat a tyle yet withinne oure wones. 
2106: By god! we owen fourty pound for stones. 
2107: Now help, thomas, for hym that harwed helle! 
2108: For elles moste we oure bookes selle. 
2109: And if yow lakke oure predicacioun, 
2110: Thanne goth the world al to destruccioun. 
2111: For whoso wolde us fro this world bireve, 
2112: So God me save, thomas, by youre leve, 
2113: He wolde bireve out of this world the sonne. 
2114: For who kan teche and werchen as we konne? 
2115: And that is nat of litel tyme, quod he, 
2116: But syn elye was, or elise, 
2117: Han freres been, that funde I of record, 
2118: In charitee, ythanked be oure lord! 
2119: Now thomas, help, for seinte charitee! 
2120: And doun anon he sette hym on his knee. 
2121: This sike man wax wel ny wood for ire; 
2122: He wolde that the frere had been on-fire, 
2123: With his false dissymulacioun. 
2124: Swich thyng as is in my possessioun, 
2125: Quod he, that may I yeve yow, and noon oother. 
2126: Ye sey me thus, how that I am youre brother? 
2127: Ye, certes, quod the frere, trusteth weel. 
2128: I took oure dame oure lettre with oure seel. 
2129: Now wel, quod he, and somwhat shal I yive 
2130: Unto youre hooly covent whil I lyve; 
2131: And in thyn hand thou shalt it have anon, 
2132: On this condicion, and oother noon, 
2133: That thou departe it so, my deere brother, 
2134: That every frere have also muche as oother. 
2135: This shaltou swere on thy professioun, 
2136: Withouten fraude or cavillacioun. 
2137: I swere it, quod this frere, by my feith! 
2138: And therwithal his hand in his he leith, 
2139: Lo, heer my feith; in me shal be no lak. 
2140: Now thanne, put in thyn hand doun by my bak, 
2141: Seyde this man, and grope wel bihynde. 
2142: Bynethe my buttok there shaltow fynde 
2143: A thyng that I have hyd in pryvetee. 
2144: A! thoghte this frere, that shal go with me! 
2145: And doun his hand he launcheth to the clifte, 
2146: In hope for to fynde there a yifte. 
2147: And whan this sike man felte this frere 
2148: Aboute his tuwel grope there and heere, 
2149: Amydde his hand he leet the frere a fart, 
2150: Ther nys no capul, drawynge in a cart, 
2151: That myghte have lete a fart of swich a soun. 
2152: The frere up stirte as dooth a wood leoun, -- 
2153: A! false cherl, quod he, for goddes bones! 
2154: This hastow for despit doon for the nones. 
2155: Thou shalt abye this fart, if that I may! 
2156: His meynee, whiche that herden this affray, 
2157: Cam lepynge in and chaced out the frere; 
2158: And forth he gooth, with a ful angry cheere, 
2159: And fette his felawe, ther as lay his stoor. 
2160: He looked as it were a wilde boor; 
2161: He grynte with his teeth, so was he wrooth. 
2162: A sturdy paas doun to the court he gooth, 
2163: Wher as ther woned a man of greet honour, 
2164: To whom that he was alwey confessour. 
2165: This worthy man was lord of that village. 
2166: This frere cam as he were in a rage, 
2167: Where as this lord sat etyng at his bord; 
2168: Unnethes myghte the frere speke a word, 
2169: Til atte laste he seyde, God yow see! 
2170: This lord gan looke, and seide, benedicitee! 
2171: What, frere john, what maner world is this? 
2172: I se wel that som thyng ther is amys; 
2173: Ye looken as the wode were ful of thevys. 
2174: Sit doun anon, and tel me what youre grief is, 
2175: And it shal been amended, if I may. 
2176: I have, quod he, had a despit this day, 
2177: God yelde yow, adoun in youre village, 
2178: That in this world is noon so povre a page 
2179: That he nolde have abhomynacioun 
2180: Of that I have receyved in youre toun. 
2181: And yet ne greveth me nothyng so soore, 
2182: As that this olde cherl with lokkes hoore 
2183: Blasphemed hath oure hooly covent eke. 
2184: Now, maister, quod this lord, I yow biseke, -- 
2185: No maister, sire, quod he, but servitour, 
2186: Thogh I have had in scole that honour. 
2187: God liketh nat that -- raby -- men us calle, 
2188: Neither in market ne in youre large halle. 
2189: No fors, quod he, but tel me al youre grief. 
2190: Sire, quod this frere, and odious meschief 
2191: This day bityd is to myn ordre and me, 
2192: And so, per consequens, to ech degree 
2193: Of hooly chirche, God amende it soone! 
2194: Sire, quod the lord, ye woot what is to doone. 
2195: Distempre yow noght, ye be my confessour; 
2196: Ye been the salt of the erthe and the savour. 
2197: For goddes love, youre pacience ye holde! 
2198: Tel me youre grief; and anon hym tolde, 
2199: As ye han herd biforn, ye woot wel what. 
2200: The lady of the hous ay stille sat 
2201: Til she had herd what the frere sayde. 
2202: Ey, goddes mooder, quod she, blisful mayde! 
2203: Is ther oght elles? telle me feithfully. 
2204: Madame, quod he, how thynke ye herby? 
2205: How that me thynketh? quod she, so God me speede, 
2206: I seye, a cherl hath doon a cherles dede. 
2207: What shold I seye? God lat hym nevere thee! 
2208: His sike heed is ful of vanytee; 
2209: I holde hym in a manere frenesye. 
2210: Madame, quod he, by god, I shal nat lye 
2211: But in on oother wyse may be wreke, 
2212: I shal disclaundre hym over al ther I speke, 
2213: This false blasphemour, that charged me 
2214: To parte that wol nat departed be, 
2215: To every man yliche, with meschaunce! 
2216: The lord sat stille as he were in a traunce, 
2217: And in his herte he rolled up and doun, 
2218: How hadde this cherl ymaginacioun 
2219: To shewe swich a probleme to the frere? 
2220: Nevere erst er now herde I of swich mateere. 
2221: I trowe the devel putte it in his mynde. 
2222: In ars-metrike shal ther no man fynde, 
2223: Biforn this day, of swich a question. 
2224: Who sholde make a demonstracion 
2225: That every man sholde have yliche his part 
2226: As of the soun or savour of a fart? 
2227: O nyce, proude cherl, I shrewe his face! 
2228: Lo, sires, quod the lord, with harde grace! 
2229: Who evere herde of swich a thyng er now? 
2230: To every man ylike, tel me how? 
2231: It is an inpossible, it may nat be. 
2232: Ey, nyce cherl, God lete him nevere thee! 
2233: The rumblynge of a fart, and every soun, 
2234: Nis but of eir reverberacioun, 
2235: And evere it wasteth litel and litel awey. 
2236: Ther is no man kan deemen, by my fey, 
2237: If that it were departed equally. 
2238: What, lo, my cherl, lo, yet how shrewedly 
2239: Unto my confessour to-day he spak! 
2240: I holde hym certeyn a demonyak! 
2241: Now ete youre mete, and lat the cherl go pleye; 
2242: Lat hym go honge hymself a devel weye! 
2243: Now stood the lordes squier at the bord, 
2244: That karf his mete, and herde word by word 
2245: Of alle thynges whiche I have yow sayd. 
2246: My lord, quod he, be ye nat yvele apayd, 
2247: I koude telle, for a gowne-clooth, 
2248: To yow, sire frere, so ye be nat wrooth, 
2249: How that this fart sholde evene deled be 
2250: Among youre covent, if it lyked me. 
2251: Tel, quod the lord, and thou shalt have anon 
2252: A gowne-clooth, by God and by seint john! 
2253: My lord, quod he, whan that the weder is fair, 
2254: Withouten wynd or perturbynge of air, 
2255: Lat brynge a cartwheel heere into this halle; 
2256: But looke that it have his spokes alle, -- 
2257: Twelve spokes hath a cartwheel comunly. 
2258: And bryng me thanne twelve freres, woot ye why? 
2259: For thrittene is a covent, as I gesse. 
2260: Youre confessour heere, for his worthynesse, 
2261: Shal parfoune up the nombre of his covent, 
2262: Thanne shal they knele doun, by oon assent, 
2263: And to every spokes ende, in this manere, 
2264: Ful sadly leye his nose shal a frere. 
2265: Youre noble confessour -- there God hym save! -- 
2266: Shal holde his nose upright under the nave. 
2267: Thanne shal this cherl, with bely stif and toght 
2268: As any tabour, hyder been ybroght; 
2269: And sette hym on the wheel right of this cart. 
2270: Upon the nave, and make hym lete a fart. 
2271: And ye shul seen, up peril of my lyf, 
2272: By preeve which that is demonstratif, 
2273: That equally the soun of it wol wende, 
2274: And eke the stynk, unto the spokes ende. 
2275: Save that this worthy man, youre confessour, 
2276: By cause he is a man of greet honour, 
2277: Shal have the firste fruyt, as resoun is. 
2278: The noble usage of freres yet is this, 
2279: The worthy men of hem shul first be served; 
2280: And certeinly he hath it well disserved. 
2281: He hath to-day taught us so muche good 
2282: With prechyng in the pulpit the he stood, 
2283: That I may vouche sauf, I sey for me, 
2284: He hadde the firste smel of fartes thre; 
2285: And so wolde al his covent hardily, 
2286: He bereth hym so faire and hoolily. 
2287: The lord, the lady, and ech man, save the frere, 
2288: Seyde that jankyn spak, in this matere, 
2289: As wel as euclide dide or ptholomee. 
2290: Touchynge the cherl, they seyde, subtiltee 
2291: And heigh wit made hym speken as he spak; 
2292: He nys no fool, ne no demonyak. 
2293: And jankyn hath ywonne a newe gowne. -- 
2294: My tale is doon; we been almost at towne. 

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