THE MONKS TALE（第1页）

theprologue

whenendedwasmytaleofmelibee，

andofprudenceandherbenignity，

ourhostesaid，"asiamfaithfulman，

andbythepreciouscorpusmadrian，

ihadlever*thanabarrelofale，*rather

thatgoodelefe*mywifehadheardthistale;*dear

forsheisnothingofsuchpatience

aswasthismeliboeuswifeprudence.

bygoddesbones!whenibeatmyknaves

shebringethmethegreatec露bbedstaves，

andcrieth，eseveryone，

andbreakofthembothbackandevrybone.

andifthatanyneighebourofmine

willnotinchurc混♂tomywifeincline，

orbesohardytohertotrespace，**offend

whensheeshomesherampeth*inmyface，*springs

andcrieth，falsecoward，wreak*thywife*avenge

bycorpusdomini，iwillhavethyknife，

andthoushalthavemydistaff，andgospin.

fromdaytillnightrightthusshewillbegin.

alas!shesaith，thateveriwasshape**destined

towedamilksop，oracowardape，

thatwillbeoverlad*witheverywight!*imposedon

thoudarestnotstandbythywifesright.

"thisismylife，*butif*thatiwillfight;*unles

andoutatdooranonimustmedight，**betakemyself

orellesiamlost，butifthati

be，likeawildelion，fool-hardy.