The Prologue + 

By that the Manciple his tale had ended, + 

The sunnë from the south line was descended + 

So lowë, that it was not to my sight + 

Degreës nine-and-twenty as in height. + 

Four of the clock it was then, as I guess, + 

For eleven foot, a little more or less, + 

My shadow was at thilkë time, as there, + 

Of such feet as my lengthë parted were + 

In six feet equal of proportión. + 

Therewith the moonë’s exaltatión, + 

In meanë Libra, gan alway ascend, + 

As we were ent’ring at a thorpë’s end. + 

For which our Host, as he was wont to gie, + 

As in this case, our jolly company, + 

Said in this wisë; “Lordings every one, + 

Now lacketh us no morë tales than one. + 

Fulfill’d is my senténce and my decree; + 

I trow that we have heard of each degree. + 

Almost fulfilled is mine ordinance; + 

I pray to God so give him right good chance + 

That telleth us this talë lustily. + 

Sir Priest,” quoth he, “art thou a vicary? + 

Or art thou a Parson? say sooth by thy fay. + 

Be what thou be, breakë thou not our play; + 

For every man, save thou, hath told his tale. + 

Unbuckle, and shew us what is in thy mail. + 

For truëly me thinketh by thy cheer + 

Thou shouldest knit up well a great mattére. + 

Tell us a fable anon, for cockë’s bones.” + 

This Parson him answered all at ones; + 

“Thou gettest fable none y-told for me, + 

For Paul, that writeth unto Timothy, + 

Reproveth them that weivë soothfastness, + 

And tellë fables, and such wretchedness. + 

Why should I sowë draff out of my fist, + 

When I may sowë wheat, if that me list? + 

For which I say, if that you list to hear + 

Morality and virtuous mattére, + 

And then that ye will give me audiénce, + 

I would full fain at Christë’s reverénce + 

Do you pleasáncë lawful, as I can. + 

But, trustë well, I am a southern man, + 

I cannot gest, rom, ram, ruf, by my letter; + 

And, God wot, rhyme hold I but little better. + 

And therefore if you list, I will not glose, + 

I will you tell a little tale in prose, + 

To knit up all this feast, and make an end. + 

And Jesus for his gracë wit me send + 

To shewë you the way, in this voyáge, + 

Of thilkë perfect glorious pilgrimage, + 

That hight Jerusalem celestiál. + 

And if ye vouchësafe, anon I shall + 

Begin upon my tale, for which I pray + 

Tell your advice, I can no better say. + 

But natheless this meditatión + 

I put it aye under correctión + 

Of clerkës, for I am not textuel; + 

I take but the senténcë, trust me well. + 

Therefore I make a protestatión, + 

That I will standë to correctión.” + 

Upon this word we have assented soon; + 

For, as us seemed, it was for to do’n, + 

To enden in some virtuous senténce, + 

And for to give him space and audiénce; + 

And bade our Host he shouldë to him say + 

That allë we to tell his tale him pray. + 

Our Hostë had the wordës for us all: + 

“Sir Priest,” quoth he, “now fairë you befall; + 

Say what you list, and we shall gladly hear.” + 

And with that word he said in this mannére; + 

“Tellë,” quoth he, “your meditatioún, + 

But hasten you, the sunnë will adown. + 

Be fructuous, and that in little space; + 

And to do well God sendë you his grace.” + 