THE TALE（第1页）

whilomtherewasdwellinginlombardy

aworthyknight，thatbornwasatpavie，

inwhichhelivdingreatprosperity;

andfortyyearsawifelessmanwashe，

andfollowdayehisbodilydelight

onwomen，whereaswashisappetite，

asdothesefoolesthatbeseculeres.

and，whenthathewaspassedsixtyyears，

wereitforholiness，orfordotage，

icannotsay，butsuchagreatcorage**inclination

haddethisknighttobeaweddedman，

thatdayandnighthedidallthathecan

toespywherethathemightweddedbe;

prayingourlordtograntehim，thathe

mighteonceknowenofthatblissfullife

thatisbetwixtahusbandandhiswife，

andfortoliveunderthatholybond

withwhichgodfirstemanandwomanbond

"noneotherlife，"saidhe，"isworthabean;

forwedlockissoeasy，andsoclean，

thatinthisworlditisaparadise."

thussaidthisoldeknight，thatwassowise.

andcertainly，assooth*asgodisking，*true

totakeawifeitisagloriousthing，

andnamely*whenamanisoldandhoar，*especially

thenisawifethefruitofhistreasor;

thenshouldhetakeayoungwifeandafair，

onwhichhemightengenderhimanheir，

andleadhislifeinjoyandinsolace;**mirth，delight

whereasthesebachelorssingen"alas!"

whenthattheyfindanyadversit