The General Prologue
Folio 11v
2 of 21 folios
Schaƚƚ haue a soper at owre aller cost
800
Here in þis place sittinge be þe post
Whan þat we comen a geine fro Canturbury
And for to make ȝow þe more mery
I. wil my seluen goodely wiþ ȝow ride
Riht att myne oune coste & be ȝowre gide
805
And who so wil my Iuggement wiþ seie
Schal paie al þat we spende be þe weie
And if ȝe vouche saue þat it be so
Tel me anone wiþ owten wordes mo
And .I. wil erly schape me þere fore
810
¶ This þinge was graunted & owre oþes swore
W ful glad hert & praieyng him also
Þat he wolde vouche saue for to do so
And þat he wolde be owre gouernowre
And of owre tales Iugge & reporture
815
And sett a soper att a serteine pris
And we wil rewled bene att his deuis
In hihe & lowhe & þus be one assent
We bene accorded to þe Juggement
And þer vpon þewyne was fett anone
820
We dronken & to rest went ichone
Wiþ owten any longer taryinge
An morwe whan þe daie gan to springe
Vp roos owre ost & was owre alder cok
And gederd vs to geder in a flok
825
And forþe we reden a litel mor þan pas
Vnto wateringe of seint Thomas
And þere owre oste gan his hors areste
And seide lordes herkneþ if ȝowe leste
Ȝe wote ȝowre forward . & .I. it ȝowe recorde
830
If þat Euynsonge . & Morwsonge accorde
Lat se nowe who schal tel þe first tale
As euer mot .I. drinke wine or ale
Who so be rebel to my Iuggement
Schal paie for al þat be þe waie is spent
835
Now draweþ cut or þat we ferþer wynne
Whiche þat haþe þe schortest schal be ginne
¶ Sir knight qd he my maister & my lorde
Now draweþ Cut for þat is myne accorde
Cōmeþ nere qd he Mi ladi prioresse
840
And ȝe sire clerke lat be ȝowre schame fastnesse