Great cheerë made our Host us every one, And to the supper set he us anon: And served us with victual of the best. Strong was the wine, and well to drink us lest. A seemly man Our Hostë was withal For to have been a marshal in an hall. A largë man he was with eyen steep, A fairer burgess is there none in Cheap: Bold of his speech, and wise and well y-taught, And of manhoodë lacked him right naught. Eke thereto was he right a merry man, And after supper playen he began, And spake of mirth amongës other things, When that we haddë made our reckonings; And saidë thus; “Now, lordingës, truly Ye be to me welcome right heartily: For by my troth, if that I shall not lie, I saw not this year such a company At once in this herberow, as is now. Fain would I do you mirth, an I wist how. And of a mirth I am right now bethought. To do you ease, and it shall costë nought. Ye go to Canterbury; God you speed, The blissful Martyr quitë you your meed; And well I wot, as ye go by the way, Ye shapen you to talken and to play: For truëly comfórt nor mirth is none To ridë by the way as dumb as stone: And therefore would I makë you disport, As I said erst, and do you some comfórt. And if you liketh all by one assent Now for to standen at my judgëment, And for to worken as I shall you say To-morrow, when ye riden on the way, Now by my father’s soulë that is dead, But ye be merry, smiteth off mine head. Hold up your hands withoutë morë speech.”
Our counsel was not longë for to seech: Us thought it was not worth to make it wise, And granted him withoutë more avise, And bade him say his verdict, as him lest.
“Lordings (quoth he), now hearken for the best; But take it not, I pray you, in disdain; This is the point, to speak it plat and plain. That each of