The Canterbury Tales

Fragment III

The Friar's Prologue

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The Prologe of the

Freres Tale.

1265

This worthy lymytour, this noble frere,

He made alwey a maner louryng chiere

Upon the somonour, but for honestee

No vileyns word as yet to hym spak he.

But atte laste he seyde unto the wyf,

1270

Dame, quod he, God yeve yow right good lyf!

Ye han heer touched, also moot I thee,

In scole-matere greet difficultee.

Ye han seyd muche thyng right wel, I seye;

But, dame, heere as we ryde by the weye,

1275

Us nedeth nat to speken but of game,

And lete auctoritees, on goddes name,

To prechyng and to scole eek of clergye.

But if it lyke to this compaignye,

I wol yow of a somonour telle a game.

1280

Pardee, ye may wel knowe by the name

That of a somonour may no good be sayd;

I praye that noon of you be yvele apayd.

A somonour is a rennere up and doun

With mandementz for fornicacioun,

1285

And is ybet at every townes ende.

Oure hoost tho spak, a! sire, ye sholde be hende

And curteys, as a man of youre estaat;

In compaignye we wol have no debaat.

Telleth youre tale, and lat the somonour be.

1290

Nay, quod the somonour, lat hym seye to me

What so hym list; whan it comth to me lot,

By god! I shal hym quiten every grot.

I shal hym tellen which a greet honour

It is to be a flaterynge lymytour;

1295

And eek of many another manere cryme

Which nedeth nat rehercen at this tyme;

And his office I shal hym telle, ywis.

Oure hoost answerde, pees, namoore of this!

And after this he seyde unto the frere,

1300

Tel forth youre tale, my leeve maister deere.