The Prologue + 

“Ho!” quoth the Knight, “good sir, no more of this; + 

That ye have said is right enough, y-wis, + 

And muchë more; for little heaviness + 

Is right enough to muchë folk, I guess. + 

I say for me, it is a great disease, + 

Where as men have been in great wealth and ease, + 

To hearen of their sudden fall, alas! + 

And the contráry is joy and great solas, + 

As when a man hath been in poor estate, + 

And climbeth up, and waxeth fortunate, + 

And there abideth in prosperity; + 

Such thing is gladsome, as it thinketh me, + 

And of such thing were goodly for to tell.” + 

“Yea,” quoth our Hostë, “by Saint Paulë’s bell. + 

Ye say right sooth; this monk hath clapped loud; + 

He spake how Fortune cover’d with a cloud + 

I wot not what, and als’ of a tragédy + 

Right now ye heard: and pardie no remédy + 

It is for to bewailë, nor complain + 

That that is done, and also it is pain, + 

As ye have said, to hear of heaviness. + 

Sir Monk, no more of this, so God you bless; + 

Your tale annoyeth all this company; + 

Such talking is not worth a butterfly, + 

For therein is there no sport nor game; + 

Therefore, Sir Monkë, Dan Piers by your name, + 

I pray you heart’ly, tell us somewhat else, + 

For sickerly, n’ere clinking of your bells, + 

That on your bridle hang on every side, + 

By heaven’s king, that for us allë died, + 

I should ere this have fallen down for sleep, + 

Although the slough had been never so deep; + 

Then had your talë been all told in vain. + 

For certainly, as thesë clerkës sayn, + 

Where as a man may have no audience, + 

Nought helpeth it to tellë his senténce. + 

And well I wot the substance is in me, + 

If anything shall well reported be. + 

Sir, say somewhat of hunting, I you pray.” + 

“Nay,” quoth the Monk, “I have no lust to play; + 

Now let another tell, as I have told.” + 

Then spake our Host with rudë speech and bold, + 

And said unto the Nunnë’s Priest anon, + 

“Come near, thou Priest, come hither, thou Sir John, + 

Tell us such thing as may our heartës glade. + 

Be blithe, although thou ride upon a jade. + 

What though thine horse be bothë foul and lean? + 

If he will serve thee, reck thou not a bean; + 

Look that thine heart be merry evermo’.” + 

“Yes, Host,” quoth he, “so may I ride or go, + 

But I be merry, y-wis I will be blamed.” + 

And right anon his tale he hath attamed; + 

And thus he said unto us every one, + 

This sweetë priest, this goodly man, Sir John. + 