The Canterbury Tales · The Squire’s Tale · The Prologue

“Hey! Goddë’s mercy!” said our Hostë tho,3010

“Now such a wife I pray God keep me fro’.

Lo, suchë sleightës and subtilities

In women be; for aye as busy as bees

Are they us silly men for to deceive,

And from the soothë3011 will they ever weive,3012

As this Merchantë’s tale it proveth well.

But natheless, as true as any steel,

I have a wife, though that she poorë be;

But of her tongue a labbing3013 shrew is she;

And yet3014 she hath a heap of vices mo’.

Thereof no force;3015 let all such thingës go.

But wit3016 ye what? in counsel3017 be it said,

Me rueth sore I am unto her tied;

For, an’3018 I shouldë reckon every vice

Which that she hath, y-wis3019 I were too nice;3020

And causë why, it should reported be

And told her by some of this companý

(By whom, it needeth not for to declare,

Since women connen utter such chaffáre),3021

And eke my wit sufficeth not thereto

To tellen all; wherefore my tale is do.3022

Squiër, come near, if it your willë be,

And say somewhat of love, for certes ye

Connë thereon3023 as much as any man.”

“Nay, Sir,” quoth he; “but such thing as I can,

With hearty will⁠—for I will not rebel

Against your lust,3024⁠—a tale will I tell.

Have me excused if I speak amiss;

My will is good; and lo, my tale is this.”