“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.”

Anon to drawen every wight began, And shortly for to tellen as it was, Were it by áventure, or sort, or cas, 275 The sooth is this, the cut fell to the Knight, Of which full blithe and glad was every wight; And tell he must his tale as was reasón, By forword, and by composition, As ye have heard; what needeth wordës mo’? And when this good man saw that it was so, As he that wise was and obediént To keep his forword by his free assent, He said; “Sithen 276 I shall begin this game, Why, welcome be the cut in Goddë’s name. Now let us ride, and hearken what I say.”