THE GENERAL PROLOGUE（第28页）

lordings（quothhe），nowhearkenforthebest;

buttakeitnot，iprayyou，indisdain;

thisisthepoint，tospeakitplat*andplain.*fla

thateachofyou，toshortenwithyourway

inthisvoyage，shalltellentalestway，

tocanterbury-ward，imeanitso，

andhomewardheshalltellenothertwo，

ofaventuresthatwhilomhavebefall.

andwhichofyouthatbearthhimbestofall，

thatistosay，thattellethinthiscase

talesofbestsentenceandstsolace，

shallhaveasupper*atyourallercost**atthecostofyouall*

hereinthisplace，sitbythispost，

whenthatyeeagainfromcanterbury.

andfortomakeyoutheremerry，

iwillmyselfegladlywithyouride，

rightatmineowencost，andbeyourguide.

andwhosowillmyjudgementwithsay，

shallpayforallwespendenbytheway.

andifyevouchesafethatitbeso，

tellmeanonwithoutewordes*，*re

andiwillearlyshapemetherefore."

thisthingwasgranted，andouroathweswore

withfullgladheart，andprayedhimalso，

thathewouldvouchesafefortodoso，

andthathewouldebeourgovernour，

andofourtalesjudgeandreportour，

andsetasupperatacertainprice;

andwewillruledbeathisdevice，

inhighandlow:andthusbyoneassent，

ordedtohisjudgement.