THE FRIAR'S TALE

THE PROLOGUE^<1>

This worthy limitour, this noble Frere,

He made always a manner louring cheer**countenance

Upon the Sompnour; but for honesty* *courtesy

No villain word as yet to him spake he:

But at the last he said unto the Wife:

"Dame," quoth he, "God give you right good life,

Ye have here touched, all so may I the,* *thrive

In school matter a greate difficulty

Ye have said muche thing right well, I say;

But, Dame, here as we ride by the way,

Us needeth not but for to speak of game,

And leave authorities, in Godde's name,

To preaching, and to school eke of clergy.

But if it like unto this company,

I will you of a Sompnour tell a game;

Pardie, ye may well knowe by the name,

That of a Sompnour may no good be said;

I pray that none of you be *evil paid;* *dissatisfied

A Sompnour is a runner up and down

With mandements* for fornicatioun, *mandates,summonses*

And is y-beat at every towne's end."

Then spake our Host; "Ah, sir, ye should be hend**civil, gentle

And courteous, as a man of your estate;

In company we will have no debate:

Tell us your tale, and let the Sompnour be."

"Nay," quoth the Sompnour, "let him say by me

What so him list; when it comes to my lot,

By God, I shall him quiten* every groat! *pay him off

I shall him telle what a great honour

It is to be a flattering limitou

And his office I shall him tell y-wis"

Our Host answered, "Peace, no more of this."

And afterward he said unto the frere,

"Tell forth your tale, mine owen master dear."

NOTES:

1. On the Tale of the Friar, and that of the Sompnour which follows, Tyrwhitt has remarked that they "are well engrafted upon that of the Wife of Bath. The ill-humour which shows itself between these two characters is quite natural, as no two professions at that time were at more constant variance. The regular clergy, and particularly the mendicant friars, affected a total exemption from all ecclesiastical jurisdiction,except that of the Pope, which made them exceedingly obnoxious to the bishops and of course to all the inferior officers of the national hierarchy." Both tales,whatever their origin, are bitter satires on the greed and worldliness of the Romish clergy.