'IN faith, Squier, thou hast thee well acquit, And gentilly; I praise well thy wit,' Quoth the Franklin; 'considering thy youthe So feelingly thou speak’st, Sir, I aloue* thee, *allow, approve *As to my doom,* there is none that is here *so far as my judgment Of eloquence that shall be thy peer, goes* If that thou live; God give thee goode chance, And in virtue send thee continuance, For of thy speaking I have great dainty.
* *value, esteem I have a son, and, by the Trinity; *It were me lever* than twenty pound worth land, *I would rather* Though it right now were fallen in my hand, He were a man of such discretion As that ye be: fy on possession, *But if* a man be virtuous withal.
*unless I have my sone snibbed* and yet shall, *rebuked; 'snubbed.
' For he to virtue *listeth not t’intend,* *does not wish to But for to play at dice, and to dispend, apply himself* And lose all that he hath, is his usage; And he had lever talke with a page, Than to commune with any gentle wight, There he might learen gentilless aright.
' Straw for your gentillesse! ' quoth our Host. 'What? Frankelin, pardie, Sir, well thou wost* *knowest That each of you must tellen at the least A tale or two, or breake his behest.
'* *promise 'That know I well, Sir,' quoth the Frankelin; 'I pray you have me not in disdain, Though I to this man speak a word or two. ' 'Tell on thy tale, withoute wordes mo’.
' 'Gladly, Sir Host,' quoth he, 'I will obey Unto your will; now hearken what I say; I will you not contrary* in no wise, *disobey As far as that my wittes may suffice. I pray to God that it may please you,