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

“Well said, by corpus Domini,” quoth our Host;

“Now longë may’st thou sailë by the coast,

Thou gentle Master, gentle Marinére.

God give the monk a thousand last quad year

Aha! fellows, beware of such a jape.3786

The monk put in the mannë’s hood an ape,3787

And in his wifë’s eke, by Saint Austin.

Drawë no monkës more into your inn.

But now pass over, and let us seek about,

Who shall now tellë first of all this rout

Another tale;” and with that word he said,

As courteously as it had been a maid;

“My Lady Prioressë, by your leave,

So that I wist I shouldë you not grieve,3788

I wouldë deemë3789 that ye tellë should

A talë next, if so were that ye would.

Now will ye vouchësafe, my lady dear?”

“Gladly,” quoth she; and said as ye shall hear.