[Owre Hoost upon his stiropes stood anon, And seyde, "Goode men, herkeneth everych on! This was a thrifty tale for the nones! Sir Parisshe Prest," quod he, "for Goddes bones, Telle us a tale, as was thi forward yore. I se wel that ye lerned men in lore Can moche good, by Goddes dignitee!" The Parson hem answerde, "@3Benedicite!@1 What eyleth the man, so synfully to swere?" Oure Host answerde, "O Jankin, be ye there? I smelle a Lollere in the wynd," quod he. "Now! goode men," quod oure Hoste, "herkeneth me; Abydeth, for Goddes digne passioun, For we schal han a predicacioun; This Lollere heer wil prechen us somwhat." "Nay, by my fader soule, that schal he nat!" Seyde the Shipman; "heer schal he nat preche; He schal no gospel glosen here ne teche. We leven alle in the grete God," quod he; "He wolde sowen som difficulte, Or springen cokkel in our clene corn. And therfore, Hoost, I warne thee biforn, My joly body schal a tale telle, And I schal clynken you so mery a belle, That I schal waken al this compaignie. But it schal not ben of philosophie, Ne phislyas, ne termes queinte of lawe. Ther is but litel Latyn in my mawe!"] | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE RUBAIYAT, 1879 EDITION: 18 by OMAR KHAYYAM MONT BLANC; LINES WRITTEN IN THE VALE OF CHAMOUNI by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: 7 by ALFRED TENNYSON TO HARTLEY COLERIDGE; SIX YEARS OLD by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH |