When his turn came to tell his story, he saw a chance of annoying the Summoner, which he didn’t mean to lose; and, disagreeable as the Summoner was, it is not very surprising.
But if it like to this companye,
I wil yow of a Sompnour telle a game;joke
Pardé, ye may wel knowe by the name,
That of a Sompnour may no good be sayd;
I pray that noon of yow be evel apayd.disappointed
“But if agreeable to the company,
I’ll tell you of a Summoner such a game
Belike you may imagine from the name,
That of a Summoner can no good be said.
I pray that none of you be ill repaid!”
The Summoner, who was inoffensive enough just then, whatever he might have been at other times, was not very well pleased at having his trade spoken of in such terms, and felt that it was all a hit at himself; and mine host, to prevent further squabbling, breaks in with—“Now, Friar, it is not very courteous to speak at a companion in that style; a man of your calling ought to know better:—
In companye we wol have no debaat:
Telleth your tale, and let the Sompnour be.tell
Nay, quoth the Sompnour, let him saye to me
What so him list; whan it cometh to my lot
By God I schal him quyten every grot.requite, groat
I schal him telle which a gret honourgreat
Is to ben a fals flateryng lymytour!be, false
“In company we will have no debate,
Tell on your tale, and let the Summoner be.”
“Nay,” cried the Summoner, “let him say of me
What he may choose. When my turn comes, good lack!
All he has said I’ll pay him fairly back!
I’ll tell him what a pretty trade is his,
Beggar and flattering limitor that he is!”
Mine host cries out, “Peace, no more of this!” and begs the Friar to go on.
Once upon a time there was an archdeacon in my country who punished with great severity all kinds of misdoings.
He had a Summoner ready to his hand, who worked under this strict archdeacon with equal severity. A slyer fellow was there none in England; and most cunningly he watched the people in secret, so as to find out how best to catch them tripping.
I shall not spare this Summoner here, though he be mad as a hare with it all; for Summoners have no jurisdiction over us Friars, you know, and never will have, all the days of their lives. We are out of their power!
[“So are other refuse of the people[114] besides Friars!” interrupted the angry Summoner, when he heard that.