THE GENERAL PROLOGUE（第29页）

ordedtohisjudgement.

andthereuponthewinewasfet*anon.*fetched.

wedrunken，andtorestewenteachone，

withoutenanylongertarrying

a-rrow，whenthedaybegantospring，

uproseourhost，andwas*ourallercock*，*thecocktowakeusall*

andgatherdustogetherinaflock

andforthweriddenallalittlespace，

untothewateringofsaintthomas

:

andthereourhostbeganhishorsearrest，

andsaide;"lordes，hearkenifyoulest.

ye*weetyourforword，*andiitrecord.*knowyourpromise*

ifeven-songandrning-ord，

letseenowwhoshalltellethefirsttale

asevermayidrinkewineorale，

whosoisrebeltomyjudgement，

shallpayforallthatbythewayisspent.

nowdrawyecuts*，erethatyefarthertwin**.*lots**go

hewhichthathaththeshortestshallbegin."

"sirknight（quothhe），mymasterandmylord，

nowdrawthecut，ord.

enear（quothhe），myladyprioress，

andye，sirclerk，letbeyourshamefastness，

norstudynot:layhandto，everyman."

anontodraweneverywightbegan，

andshortlyfortotellenasitwas，

wereitbyaventure，orsort*，orcas**，*lot**chance

thesoothisthis，thecutfelltotheknight，

ofwhichfullblitheandgladwaseverywight;

andtellhemusthistaleaswasreason，