Where as a man may have no audience, Nought helpeth it to tellë his senténce. And well I wot the substance is in me, If anything shall well reported be. Sir, say somewhat of hunting, 4240 I you pray.”

“Nay,” quoth the Monk, “I have no lust to play; 4241 Now let another tell, as I have told.” Then spake our Host with rudë speech and bold, And said unto the Nunnë’s Priest anon, “Come near, thou Priest, come hither, thou Sir John, 4242 Tell us such thing as may our heartës glade. 4243 Be blithe, although thou ride upon a jade. What though thine horse be bothë foul and lean? If he will serve thee, reck thou not a bean; Look that thine heart be merry evermo’.”