The General Prologue
Folio 7r
13 of 14 folios
And which of yow that bereth him best of alle.
That is to seyen that telleth in this cas.
Tales of best sentence and moost solas
Shall have a Soper at oure aller cost
800
Here in this place sittyng by this post
Whan that we come a gayn fro Caunturbury
And for to make yow the more mury.
I wol my self goodly wt ȝow ryde
Ryght at myn awne coste and be youre gide.
805
And who so wol my Iuggement wyth seye
Shal pay al that we spende by the weye
And if ye vouche safe that yt be so
Telle me anoon wyth owten wordes moo
And I wol erly shape me ther fore
810
¶ This thyng was graunted and oure othes swore
Wyth ful glad herte and preyden him also
That he wolde vouchesafe for to do so
And that he wolde be oure gouernour
And of oure tale Iuge and reportour
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And sette a souper at a certeyn pris
And we wol ruled ben at his deuys
¶ In heigh and lough and thus by on assent
We ben acorded to his Iuggement.
And ther vpon the wyne was fet anon
820
We dronken and to rest went echon
Wyth outen eny lenger taryinge
A morwe whan that day bygan to springe
Vp roos oure hoost and oure aller cok
And gedred vs to gyder in a flok
825
And forth we ryden a lytel more than pas
Vnto the wateryng of seint Thomas
And ther oure hoost by gan his hors areste
And seide lordynges herkeneth if ȝow leste
¶ Ye woot youre forward and it yow recorde
830
If evensong and morowsonge accorde
Lat se now who shal telle the first tale
As euer mote y drynke Wyne or Ale
Who so be rebel to my Iuggement
Shal pay for al that by the wey is spent
835
Now draweth cut or that we ferther twynne