you, to shorten with your way In this voyáge, shall tellen talës tway, To Canterbury-ward, I mean it so, And homeward he shall tellen other two, Of aventúres that whilom have befall. And which of you that bear’th him best of all, That is to say, that telleth in this case Talës of best senténce and most solace, Shall have a supper at your allër cost Here in this placë, sitting by this post, When that ye come again from Canterbury. And for to makë you the morë merry, I will myselfë gladly with you ride, Right at mine owen cost, and be your guide. And whoso will my judgëment withsay, Shall pay for all we spenden by the way. And if ye vouchësafe that it be so, Tell me anon withoutë wordës mo’, And I will early shapë me therefore.”
This thing was granted, and our oath we swore With full glad heart, and prayed him also, That he would vouchësafe for to do so, And that he wouldë be our governour, And of our talës judge and reportour, And set a supper at a certain price; And we will ruled be at his device, In high and low: and thus by one assent, We be accorded to his judgëment. And thereupon the wine was fet anon. We drunken, and to restë went each one, Withouten any longer tarrying
A-morrow, when the day began to spring, Up rose our host, and was our allër cock, And gather’d us together in a flock, And forth we ridden all a little space, Unto the watering of Saint Thomas: And there our host began his horse arrest, And saidë; “Lordës, hearken if you lest. Ye weet your forword, and I it record. If evensong and morning-song accord, Let see now who shall tellë the first tale. As ever may I drinkë wine or ale, Whoso is rebel to my judgëment, Shall pay for all that by the way is spent. Now draw ye cuts, ere that ye farther twin. He which that hath the shortest shall begin.”
“Sir Knight (quoth he), my master and my lord, Now draw the cut, for that is mine accord. Come near (quoth he), my Lady Prioress, And ye, Sir Clerk, let be your shamefastness, Nor study not: lay hand to, every man.”