THE TALE（第1页）

whilomtherewasdwellinginoxenfordarichegnof*，that*guestesheldtoboard*，*miser*tookinboarders*

andofhiscrafthewasacarpenter.

withhimtherewasdwellingapoorscholer，

hadlearnedart，butallhisfantasy

wasturnedfortolearnastrology.

hecoude*acertainofconc露sions*knew

todeeme*byinterrogations，*determine

ifthatmenaskedhimincertainhours，

whenthatmenshouldhavedroughtorellesshowrs:

orifmenaskedhimwhatshouldefall

ofeverything，imaynotreckonall.

thisclerkwascalledhendy*nicholas;*gentle，handsome

ofderne*loveheknewandofsolace;*secret，earnest

andtherewithhewasslyandfullprivy，

andlikeamaidenmeekfortosee.

achamberhadheinthathostelry

alone，withoutenanypany，

full*fetislyy-dight*withherbesswoot*，*neatlydecorated*

andhehimselfwassweetasistheroot*sweet

ofliquorice，oranysetewall*.*valerian

hisalmagest，

andbookesgreatandsmall，

hisastrolabe，

belongingtohisart，

hisaugrimstones，

layedfairapart

onshelvescouched*athisbeddeshead，*laid，set

hispressy-coverdwithafalding*red.*coarsecloth

andallabovetherelayagaypsaltry

onwhichhemadeatnightesmelody，

sosweetely，thatallthechamberrang: