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THE PROLOGUE.

 

 OUR Hoste gan to swear as he were wood;
 

 "Harow!" quoth he, "by nailes and by blood, <1>
 

 This was a cursed thief, a false justice.
 

 As shameful death as hearte can devise
 

 Come to these judges and their advoca's.*  *advocates, counsellors
 

 Algate* this sely** maid is slain, alas! *nevertheless **innocent
 

 Alas! too deare bought she her beauty.
 

 Wherefore I say, that all day man may see
 

 That giftes of fortune and of nature
 

 Be cause of death to many a creature.
 

 Her beauty was her death, I dare well sayn;
 

 Alas! so piteously as she was slain.
 

 [Of bothe giftes, that I speak of now
 

 Men have full often more harm than prow,*]     *profit
 

 But truely, mine owen master dear,
 

 This was a piteous tale for to hear;
 

 But natheless, pass over; 'tis *no force.*     *no matter*
 

 I pray to God to save thy gentle corse,*      *body
 

 And eke thine urinals, and thy jordans,
 

 Thine Hippocras, and eke thy Galliens, <2>
 

 And every boist* full of thy lectuary,       *box <3>
 

 God bless them, and our lady Sainte Mary.
 

 So may I the',* thou art a proper man,       *thrive
 

 And like a prelate, by Saint Ronian;
 

 Said I not well? Can I not speak *in term?*    *in set form*
 

 But well I wot thou dost* mine heart to erme,** *makest **grieve<4>
 

 That I have almost caught a cardiacle:*     *heartache <5>
 

 By corpus Domini <6>, but* I have triacle,**   *unless **a remedy
 

 Or else a draught of moist and corny <7> ale,
 

 Or but* I hear anon a merry tale,        *unless
 

 Mine heart is brost* for pity of this maid.  *burst, broken
 

 Thou *bel ami,* thou Pardoner," he said,    *good friend*
 

 "Tell us some mirth of japes* right anon."    *jokes
 

 "It shall be done," quoth he, "by Saint Ronion.
 

 But first," quoth he, "here at this ale-stake*  *ale-house sign <8>
 

 I will both drink, and biten on a cake."
 

 But right anon the gentles gan to cry,
 

 "Nay, let him tell us of no ribaldry.
 

 Tell us some moral thing, that we may lear*   *learn
 

 Some wit,* and thenne will we gladly hear."   *wisdom, sense
 

 "I grant y-wis,"* quoth he; "but I must think  *surely
 

 Upon some honest thing while that I drink."