The Canterbury Tales

Fragment II

The Epilogue of the Man of Law's Tale

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[The Epiloge of the Mannes

Tale of Lawe.]

[Owre hoost upon his stiropes stood anon,

And seyde, goode men, herkeneth everych on!

1165

This was a thrifty tale for the nones!

Sir parisshe prest, quod he, for goddes bones,

Telle us a tale, as was thi forward yore.

I se wel that ye lerned men in lore

Can moche good, by goddes dignitee!

1170

The parson hem answerde, benedicite!

What eyleth the man, so synfully to swere?

Oure host answerde, o jankin, be ye there?

I smelle a lollere in the wynd, quod he.

Now! goode men, quod oure hoste, herkeneth me;

1175

Abydeth, for goddes digne passioun,

For we schal han a predicacioun;

This lollere heer wil prechen us somwhat.

Nay, by my fader soule, that schal he nat!

Seyde the shipman; heer schal he nat preche;

1180

He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche.

We leven alle in the grete god, quod he;

He wolde sowen som difficulte,

Or springen cokkel in our clene corn.

And therfore, hoost, I warne thee biforn,

1185

My joly body schal a tale telle,

And I schal clynken you so mery a belle,

That I schal waken al this compaignie.

But it schal not ben of philosophie,

Ne phislyas, ne termes queinte of lawe.

1190

Ther is but litel latyn in my mawe!]