And bade him say his verdit, as him leste.' "Lordinges (quod he), now herkeneth for the beste; But take it nat, I pray you, in disdain; This is the point, to speke it plat and plain, That eche of you to shorten with youre way, In this viage, shal tellen tales tway, To Canterbury ward, I mene it so, And homeward he shall tellen other two, Of aventures that whilom han befalle. And which of you that bereth him best of alle, That is to sayn, that telleth in this cas Tales of best sentence and most solas, Shal have a souper at youre aller cost Here in this place sitting by this post, Whan that ye comen agen from Canterbury. I wol myselven gladly with you ride, And if ye vouchesauf that it be so, Telle me anon withouten wordes mo, And I wol erly shapen me therfore." This thing was granted, and our othes swore And that he wolde ben our governour, 1 Pleased. And sette a souper at a certain pris; And we wold reuled ben at his devise, In highe and lowe: and thus by on assent, And therupon the win was fette anon. We dronken, and to reste wenten eche on, A-morwe whan the day began to spring, And forth we riden a litel more than pas,' As ever mote I drinken win or ale, Shal pay for alle that by the way is spent. Now draweth cutte, or that ye forther twinne.+ He which that hath the shortest shal beginne. Now draweth cutte, for that is min accord. And ye, sire clerk, let be your shamefastnesse, 1 Foot-pace. 2 Promise. 3 Draw lots. 4 Depart. |