vouchësafe, anon I shall Begin upon my tale, for which I pray Tell your advice, I can no better say. But natheless this meditatión I put it aye under correctión Of clerkës, for I am not textuel; I take but the senténcë, trust me well. Therefore I make a protestatión, That I will standë to correctión.”
Upon this word we have assented soon; For, as us seemed, it was for to do’n, To enden in some virtuous senténce, And for to give him space and audiénce; And bade our Host he shouldë to him say That allë we to tell his tale him pray. Our Hostë had the wordës for us all: “Sir Priest,” quoth he, “now fairë you befall; Say what you list, and we shall gladly hear.” And with that word he said in this mannére; “Tellë,” quoth he, “your meditatioún, But hasten you, the sunnë will adown. Be fructuous, and that in little space; And to do well God sendë you his grace.”