The Man of Law’s Tale

Our Hostë saw well that the brightë sun Th’ arc of his artificial day had run The fourthë part, and half an hourë more; And, though he were not deep expert in lore, He wist it was the eight-and-twenty day Of April, that is messenger to May; And saw well that the shadow of every tree Was in its length of the same quantity That was the body erect that caused it; And therefore by the shadow he took his wit, 1401 That Phoebus, which that shone so clear and bright, Degrees was five-and-forty clomb on height; And for that day, as in that latitude, It was ten of the clock, he gan conclude; And suddenly he plight 1402 his horse about.