#  7.2 The Shipman-Prioress Link 

 



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*Behoold the murie wordes of the Hoost to the Shipman and to the lady Prioresse.*

435  **"Wel seyd, by corpus dominus," quod oure Hoost,**  
 "Well said, by the body of our Lord," said our Host,  
436  **"Now longe moote thou saille by the cost,**  
 "Now long may thou sail by the coast,  
437  **Sire gentil maister, gentil maryneer!**  
 Sir gentle master, gentle mariner!  
438  **God yeve the monk a thousand last quade yeer!**  
 God give the monk a thousand cartloads of bad years!  
439  **A ha! Felawes, beth ware of swich a jape!**  
 A ha! Fellows, beware of such a trick!  
440  **The monk putte in the mannes hood an ape,**  
 The monk made a monkey of the man,  
441  **And in his wyves eek, by Seint Austyn!**  
 And of his wife as well, by Saint Augustine!  
442  **Draweth no monkes moore unto youre in.**  
 Invite no more monks into your dwelling.  
443  **"But now passe over, and lat us seke aboute,**  
 "But now pass over that, and let us look around to see  
444  **Who shal now telle first of al this route**  
 Who shall now, first of all this company, tell   
445  **Another tale;" and with that word he sayde,**  
 Another tale;" and with that word he said,  
446  **As curteisly as it had been a mayde,**  
 As courteously as if he had been a maiden,  
447  **"My lady Prioresse, by youre leve,**  
 "My Lady Prioress, by your leave,  
448  **So that I wiste I sholde yow nat greve,**  
 If I knew I should not grieve you,  
449  **I wolde demen that ye tellen sholde**  
 I would judge that you should tell   
450  **A tale next, if so were that ye wolde.**  
 A tale next, if it so were that you would.  
451  **Now wol ye vouche sauf, my lady deere?"**  
 Now will you grant this, my lady dear?"  
452  **"Gladly," quod she, and seyde as ye shal heere.**  
 "Gladly," said she, and said as you shall hear.