PROLOGUE TO MELIBEUS No more of this, for God’s high dignity!” Exclaimed our host, “For you, sir, do make me So weary with your vulgar foolishness That, as may God so truly my soul bless,… 

THE PROLOGUE TO THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE Hold!” cried the knight. “Good sir, no more of this, What you have said is right enough, and is Very much more; a little heaviness Is plenty for… 

THE NUN’S PRIEST’S TALE OF THE COCK AND HEN, CHANTICLEER AND PERTELOTE A widow poor, somewhat advanced in age, Lived, on a time, within a small cottage Beside a grove and standing down a dale.… 

THE REEVE’S TALE At Trumpington, not far from Cambridge town, There is a bridge wherethrough a brook runs down, Upon the side of which brook stands a mill; And this is very truth that now… 

THE COOK’S PROLOGUE The cook from London, while the reeve yet spoke, Patted his back with pleasure at the joke. “Ha, ha!” laughed he, “by Christ’s great suffering, This miller had a mighty sharp ending… 

EPILOGUE TO THE MERCHANT’S TALE Eh! By God’s mercy!” cried our host. Said he: “Now such a wife I pray God keep from me! Behold what tricks, and lo, what subtleties In women are. For… 

THE SQUIRE’S TALE At Sarai, in the land of Tartary, There dwelt a king who warred on Russia, he, Whereby there died full many a doughty man. This noble king was known as Cambinskan, Who… 

THE MANCIPLE’S TALE OF THE CROW When Phoebus once on earth was dwelling, here, As in the ancient books it is made clear, He was the lustiest of bachelors In all this world, and even… 

THE SUMMONER’S PROLOGUE High in his stirrups, then, the summoner stood; Against the friar his heart, as madman’s would, Shook like very aspen leaf, for ire. “Masters,” said he, “but one thing I desire; I… 

THE PARSON’S TALE State super vias et videte et interrogate de viis antiquis, que sit via bona; et ambulate in ea, et inuenietis refrigerium animabus vestris, &c.; Our sweet Lord God of Heaven, Who will…