The Canterbury Tales · The Shipman’s Tale 3675 · The Prologue

Our Host upon his stirrups stood anon,

And saidë; “Good men, hearken every one,

This was a thrifty3676 talë for the nones.

Sir Parish Priest,” quoth he, “for Goddë’s bones,

Tell us a tale, as was thy forword yore:3677

I see well that ye learned men in lore

Can3678 muchë good, by Goddë’s dignity.”

The Parson him answér’d, “Ben’dicite!

What ails the man, so sinfully to swear?”

Our Host answér’d, “O Jankin, be ye there?

Now, good men,” quoth our Host, “hearken to me.

I smell a Lollard3679 in the wind,” quoth he.

“Abide, for Goddë’s dignë3680 passión,

For we shall have a predicatión:

This Lollard here will preachen us somewhat.”

“Nay, by my father’s soul, that shall he not,”

Saidë the Shipman; “Here shall he not preach,

He shall no gospel glosë3681 here nor teach.

We all believe in the great God,” quoth he.

“He wouldë sowë some difficultý,

Or springë cockle3682 in our cleanë corn.

And therefore, Host, I warnë thee beforn,

My jolly body shall a talë tell,

And I shall clinkë you so merry a bell,

That I shall waken all this company;

But it shall not be of philosophy,

Nor of physíc, nor termës quaint of law;

There is but little Latin in my maw.”3683