THE COOK'S TALE

THE PROLOGUE

THE Cook of London, while the Reeve thus spake,

For joy he laugh'd and clapp'd him on the back:

"Aha!" quoth he, "for Christes passion,

This Miller had a sharp conclusion,

Upon this argument of herbergage.* *lodging

Well saide Solomon in his language,

Bring thou not every man into thine house,

For harbouring by night is perilous.

*Well ought a man avised for to be* *a man should take good heed*

Whom that he brought into his privity.

I pray to God to give me sorrow and care

If ever, since I highte* Hodge of Ware, *was called

Heard I a miller better *set a-work*; *handled

He had a jape* of malice in the derk. *trick

But God forbid that we should stinte* here, *stop

And therefore if ye will vouchsafe to hear

A tale of me, that am a poore man,

I will you tell as well as e'er I can

A little jape that fell in our city."

Our Host answer'd and said; "I grant it thee.

Roger, tell on; and look that it be good,

For many a pasty hast thou letten blood,

And many a Jack of Dover^<1> hast thou sold,

That had been twice hot and twice cold.

Of many a pilgrim hast thou Christe's curse,

For of thy parsley yet fare they the worse.

That they have eaten in thy stubble goose:

For in thy shop doth many a fly go loose

Now tell on, gentle Roger, by thy name,

But yet I pray thee be not *wroth for game*; *angry with my jesting*

A man may say full sooth in game and play."

"Thou sayst full sooth," quoth Roger, "by my fay;

But sooth play quad play,^<2> as the Fleming saith,

And therefore, Harry Bailly, by thy faith,

Be thou not wroth, else we departe* here, *part company

Though that my tale be of an hostelere.* *innkeeper

But natheless, I will not tell it yet,

But ere we part, y-wis* thou shalt be quit."^<3>*assuredly

And therewithal he laugh'd and made cheer,^<4>

And told his tale, as ye shall after hear.

NOTES:

1. Jack of Dover: an article of cookery. (Transcriber's note: suggested by some commentators to be a kind of pie, and by others to be a fish

2. Sooth play quad play: true jest is no jest.

3. It may be remembered that each pilgrim was bound to tell two stories; one on the way to Canterbury, the other returning.

4. Made cheer: French, "fit bonne mine;" put on a pleasant countenance.