Dischevele, sauf his cappe, he rood al bare.except
Suche glaryng eyghen hadde he, as an hare.such, eyes
A vernicle[73] hadde he sowed on his cappe;
His walet lay byforn him in his lappe.before
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But trewely to tellen atte laste,truly
He was in churche a noble ecclesiaste.
Wel cowde he rede a lessoun or a storye,[74]
But altherbest he sang an offertorie:best of all
For wel he wyste, whan that song was songeknew, when
He moste preche, and wel affyle his tonge,preach, whet
To wynne silver, as he right wel cowde:win
Therfore he sang ful meriely and lowde.
Dishevell’d, save his cap, he rode barehead:
Such glaring eyes, like to a hare, he had!
A vernicle was sewed upon his cap;
His wallet lay before him, in his lap.
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But honestly to tell the truth at last,
He was in church a noble ecclesiast.
Well could he read a lesson or a story,
But ever best he sang the offertory:
For well he knew that after he had sung,
For preaching he must polish up his tongue,
And thus make money, as he right well could:
Therefore he sang full merrily and loud.
Now I have told you as much as I can what people came into the Tabard Inn that night, and why they were all travelling together, and where they were going.
Mine Host.
Our host made us very welcome, and gave us a capital supper. He was a thoroughly good fellow, our host—a large, stout man, with bright, prominent eyes, sensible and well behaved, and very merry.
After supper, he made us all laugh a good deal with his witty jests; and when we had all paid our reckonings, he addressed us all:—
And sayde thus: Lo, lordynges, trewelytruly
Ye ben to me right welcome hertily:
For by my trouthe, if that I schal not lye,shall, lie
I ne saugh this yeer so mery a companyesaw
At oones in this herbergh, as is now.inn (auberge)
Fayn wolde I do yow merthe, wiste I how.
And of a merthe I am right now bythought,
To doon you eese, and it schal coste nought.do, ease
And said to us: “My masters, certainly
Ye be to me right welcome, heartily:
For by my truth, and flattering none, say I,
I have not seen so large a company
At once inside my inn this year, as now!
I’d gladly make you mirth if I knew how.
And of a pleasant game I’m just bethought
To cheer the journey—it shall cost you nought!
“Whoever wants to know how, hold up your hands.” We all held up our hands, and begged him to say on.
“Well, my masters,” said he, “I say that each of you shall tell the rest four stories—two on the way to Canterbury, and two on the way home. For you know it is small fun riding along as dumb as a stone. And whichever in the party tells the best story, shall have a supper at this inn at the cost of the rest when you come back. To amuse you better, I will myself gladly join your party, and ride to Canterbury at my own expense, and be at once guide and judge; and whoever gainsays my judgment shall pay for all we spend by the way. Now, tell me if you all agree, and I will get me ready in time to start.”
We were all well pleased; and the next morning, at daybreak, our clever host called us all together, and we rode off to a place called the Watering of St. Thomas.[75] There we halted, and drew lots who should tell the story first, knight, clerk, lady prioress, and everybody.