He made the person and the peple his apes But trewely to tellen at the laste He was in chirche a noble Ecclesiaste Wel koude he rede a lesson and a Storie But alderbest he soong an Offertorie For wel he wiste whan that soong was songe He moste preche and wel affyle his tonge To wynne siluer as he ful wel koude Therfore he soong the muryerly and loude Now haue I toold yow soothly in a clause Thestaat tharray the nombre and eek the cause Why that assembled was this compaignye In Southwerk at this gentil hostelrye That highte the tabard faste by the belle But now is tyme to yow for to telle How that we baren vs that ilke nyght Whan we weere in that hostelrye alyght And after wol I telle of oure viage And al the remenant of oure pilgrymage But first I pray yow of youre curteisye That ye narette it noght my vileynye Though that I pleynly speke in this matere To telle yow hir wordes and hir cheere Ne thogh I speke hir wordes proprely For this ye knowen also wel as I Whoso shal telle a tale after a man He moot reherce as neigh as euere he kan Euerich a word if it be in his charge Al speke he neuer so rudeliche and large