Chaucer, Geoffrey, d. 1400. The Canterbury tales :
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
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The Knight's Interruption of the Monk's Tale
2767: Hoo! quod the knyght, good sire, namoore of this!
2768: That ye han seyd is right ynough, ywis,
2769: And muchel moore; for litel hevynesse
2770: Is right ynough to muche folk, I gesse.
2771: I seye for me, it is a greet disese,
2772: Whereas men han been in greet welthe and ese,
2773: To heeren of hire sodeyn fal, allas!
2774: And the contrarie is joye and greet solas,
2775: As whan a man hath been in povre estaat,
2776: And clymbeth up and wexeth fortunat,
2777: And there abideth in prosperitee.
2778: Swich thyng is gladsom, as it thynketh me,
2779: And of swich thyng were goodly for to telle.
2780: Ye, quod oure hooste, by seint poules belle!
2781: Ye seye right sooth; this monk he clappeth lowde.
2782: He spak how fortune covered with a clowde
2783: I noot nevere what; and als of a tragedie
2784: Right now ye herde, and, pardee, no remedie
2785: It is for to biwaille ne compleyne
2786: That that is doon, and als it is a peyne,
2787: As ye han seyd, to heere of hevynesse.
2788: Sire monk, namoore of this, so God yow blesse!
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2789: Youre tale anoyeth al this compaignye.
2790: Swich talkyng is nat worth a boterflye,
2791: For therinne is ther no desport ne game.
2792: Wherfore, sire monk, or daun piers by youre name,
2793: I pray yow hertely telle us somwhat elles;
2794: For sikerly, nere clunkyng of youre belles,
2795: That on youre bridel hange on every syde,
2796: By hevene kyng, that for us alle dyde,
2797: I sholde er this han fallen doun for sleep,
2798: Althogh the slough had never been so deep;
2799: Thanne hadde your tale al be toold in veyn.
2800: For certeinly, as that thise clerkes seyn,
2801: Whereas a man may have noon audience,
2802: Noght helpeth it to tellen his sentence.
2803: And wel I woot the substance is in me,
2804: If any thyng shal wel reported be.
2805: Sir, sey somwhat of huntyng, I yow preye.
2806: Nay, quod this monk, I have no lust to pleye.
2807: Now lat another telle, as I have toold.
2808: Thanne spak oure hoost with rude speche and boold,
2809: And seyde unto the nonnes preest anon,
2810: Com neer, thou preest, com hyder, thou sir john!
2811: Telle us swich thyng as may oure hertes glade.
2812: Be blithe, though thou ryde upon a jade.
2813: What thogh thyn hors be bothe foul and lene?
2814: If he wol serve thee, rekke nat a bene.
2815: Looke that thyn herte be murie everemo.
2816: Yis, sir, quod he, yis, hoost, so moot I go,
2817: But I be myrie, ywis I wol be blamed.
2818: And right anon his tale he hath attamed,
2819: And thus he seyde unto us everichon,
2820: This sweete preest, this goodly man sir john.